Nec Hoc Nec Ilud

* As has been the case since January, the sort may be a little rough. News keeps moving fast, so some items may be already out of date.

I had to cut this one off really, really early. I keep getting bigged down in trying to catch up on things I got behind on during the week from hell.

Similarly, I really didn't have time or energy for world news.

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* "Microsoft workers say they’ve been fired after 50th anniversary protest over Israel contract:" https://apnews.com/article/microsoft-protest-employees-fired-israel-gaza-50th-anniversary-c5b3715fa1800450b8d0f639b492495e

******

* "Russian missiles hit Ukrainian city of Sumy during Palm Sunday celebrations, killing more than 30:" https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-sumy-b034da8f4d83d08e5ea24c6033dbe3cf

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* "Jalisco cartel lures recruits with fake jobs through social platforms and kills those who resist:" https://apnews.com/article/mexico-jalisco-cartel-el-mencho-drugs-sinaloa-99f755b7173f101d74e6a1eac333cd38

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* "US office that counters foreign disinformation is being eliminated:" https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/04/16/1115256/us-office-that-counters-foreign-disinformation-is-being-eliminated-say-officials/

* "Activists stack coffins in front of State Department to protest PEPFAR cuts (in photos):" https://www.advocate.com/news/coffins-protest-pepfar-cuts#rebelltitem1

* "Trade Will Move On Without the United States:" https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2025/04/trump-tariffs-hegemony-decline/682323/

* "WTO slashes 2025 trade growth forecast, warns of deeper slump:" https://archive.ph/PqmZ6

* Meanwhile, JD Vance goes the extra mile to try to make the world worse: "JD Vance wants the UK to repeal its LGBTQ+ hate speech laws to secure a trade deal:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/us-uk-trade-deal-lgbtq

* "Tariffs to trigger sharp US economic slowdown; chance of recession jumps to 45%: Reuters Poll:" https://archive.ph/vv7pY

* "Fed Chair Powell sounds alarm on tariffs, sending stocks lower:" https://abcnews.go.com/Business/fed-chair-powell-sounds-alarm-tariffs-sending-stocks/story?id=120863770

Meanwhile Trump wants to get rid of the fed Chairman for the crime of knowing what he's doing and saying true things.

* "Trump hammers Federal Reserve chief Powell: ‘Termination cannot come fast enough!’:" https://www.politico.eu/article/trump-says-fed-reserve-chief-powells-termination-cant-come-fast-enough/

* "Bessent privately urges caution as Trump attacks Powell:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/17/trump-powell-fired-fed-00295552

* "California is first state to sue Trump on tariffs:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/16/california-is-first-state-to-sue-trump-on-tariffs-00292637

* "'Every day, every single customer': Tariffs hit close to home inside Asian grocers:" https://www.npr.org/2025/04/07/nx-s1-5352901/tariffs-trump-asian-grocery-stores

* "Tariff-ying Times with Pete Buttigieg:" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tariff-ying-times-with-pete-buttigieg/id1583132133?i=1000702978762

* "Anxious Trading Partners Promise to Buy American to Stave Off Trump’s Tariffs:" https://archive.ph/Pbsga

* "The Constitutional Crisis Is Here: Trump’s administration is only pretending to comply with the Supreme Court on the matter of a Maryland man it deported erroneously.:" https://archive.ph/7MuVP

I'm pretty sure it was when they violated a court order to illegally mass deport innocent people without any due process in the first place, but either way, here we are.

* "‘Hair on fire’: Walz says he’s ‘convinced’ Trump will ignore courts:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/-hair-on-fire-walz-says-he-s-convinced-trump-will-ignore-courts-237504069634

* "Boasberg finds probable cause to hold Trump officials in criminal contempt over deportation flights:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/16/trump-deportation-el-salvador-federal-judge-00293076

* "'Criminal contempt' looms over Trump's showdown with courts over deportation fiat:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/-criminal-contempt-looms-over-trump-s-showdown-with-courts-over-deportation-fiat-237682245946

* "‘It’s all made up!’: Hayes breaks down ‘sheer lawlessness’ of Trump deportation case:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/-it-s-all-made-up-hayes-breaks-down-sheer-lawlessness-of-trump-deportation-case-237646917654

* "Supreme Court blocks, for now, new deportations under 18th century wartime law:" https://www.npr.org/2025/04/19/g-s1-61385/supreme-court-block-deportations

* This is one of the people they were trying to send to forever prison: "Lawyer Warns Trump Is Moving to Deport Teen to El Salvador for Photo of Water Pistol:" https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/trump-deport-teenager-water-pistol-1235320693/

Republicans want to remind you that having a friend who owns a water pistol is such absolute proof of gang membership that anyone who knows anyone who has one deserves to be sent abroad to forever prison without any due process or proof of any wrong doing. Yes, that applies to children.

* "Judge blocks administration from deporting noncitizens to 3rd countries without due process:" https://abcnews.go.com/US/judge-blocks-administration-deporting-noncitizens-3rd-countries-due/story?id=120951918

* "Court denies White House appeal of 'shocking' Abrego Garcia deportation case:" https://www.npr.org/2025/04/17/g-s1-61118/appeals-court-deportation-abrego-garcia

* "'Shocking': Reagan judge issues ‘stark warning’ in scathing ruling against Trump:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/-shocking-reagan-judge-issues-stark-warning-in-scathing-ruling-against-trump-237787205992

* "'They can't hide the ball': Judge cracks the whip on Trump lawyers in deportation case:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/-they-can-t-hide-the-ball-judge-cracks-the-whip-on-trump-lawyers-in-deportation-case-237519429580

* The reason they claim they broke the law to deport him in the first place is bullshit. "Another disgraced cop linked to Trump’s authoritarian deportations to El Salvador exposed: report:" https://www.advocate.com/news/second-disgraced-cop-trump-deporations

* "Trump Admin’s New Defense For Accidentally Sending Abrego Garcia To Salvadoran Torture Camp: We Meant To Do That :" https://www.techdirt.com/2025/04/15/trump-admins-new-defense-for-accidentally-sending-abrego-garcia-to-salvadoran-torture-camp-we-meant-to-do-that/

* "‘Chilling’: Hayes on why the fate of Kilmar Abrego Garcia matters to us all:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/-chilling-hayes-on-why-the-fate-of-kilmar-abrego-garcia-matters-to-us-all-237505093763

* "Trump Ordered to Return Kilmar Abrego Garcia:"

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* "This Court Just Put The Trump Regime In Its Place | News You Missed:"

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* "Kilmar Abrego Garcia meets with Maryland senator in El Salvador, weeks after mistaken deportation:" https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/maryland-sen-van-hollen-meets-with-mistakenly-deported-kilmar-abrego-garcia-in-el-salvador/

* "'I felt afraid': Lawyer who traveled with Van Hollen to El Salvador details trip:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/-i-felt-afraid-lawyer-who-traveled-with-van-hollen-to-el-salvador-details-trip-237892677658

* "Protesters gather outside El Salvador’s consulate in St. Paul:" https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/04/17/protesters-gather-el-salvador-consulate-st-paul

* "Trump's Deportations to El Salvador Are the Latest Stop on a Long Road:"

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* "Foreign students in US mount court challenges as Trump ends their legal status:" https://archive.ph/kKuMN

* "Trump plans to fine migrants $998 a day for failing to leave after deportation order:" https://archive.ph/c8O1X

Reminder: The Trump Administration is refusing to tell people their visas, permanent residence cards, etc., have been secretly illegally revoked so that people can't contest it, and then sending secret police to kidnap them.

* "There’s a Reason the Trump Administration Is Fighting to Keep Detained International Students in Louisiana:" https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/04/donald-trump-immigration-mahmoud-khalil-rumeysa-ozturk-louisiana.html

* "The controversial and obscure law being used against immigrant student protestors:" https://www.npr.org/2025/04/11/nx-s1-5360605/mahmoud-khalil-gaza-protests-columbia-university-immigrant

* "A Palestinian activist expecting a US citizenship interview is arrested instead by ICE in Vermont:" https://apnews.com/article/immigration-palestine-protest-trump-deportation-columbia-fca7e73fe2cbd616c1eacf3bdececdbe

* We are now also illegally detaining American Citizens now for the crime of being brown against judges orders: "U.S.-born American citizen under ICE hold in Florida after driving from Georgia:" https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/us-born-citizen-detained-ice-immigration-florida-rcna201800

* Another American Citizen they are trying to illegally Deport: "American doctor receives email from immigration officials telling her to leave the country immediately:" https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/doctor-email-immigration-leave-country-rcna201698

* "Judge orders detained Tufts student Rumeysa Öztürk to be transferred back to Vermont :" https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/tufts-student-rumeysa-ozturk-rcna201954

* "Video shows ICE agent smash window to detain man in Massachusetts. Attorney says they have wrong person.:" https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/video-ice-agent-smash-car-window-new-bedford-massachusetts/

It was the wrong man, but they took him anyway.

* "Australian with working visa detained and deported on returning to US from sister’s memorial:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/11/australian-with-us-working-visa-detained-insulted-deported

* "BYU doctorate student’s visa reinstated after unexpected revocation:" https://kslnewsradio.com/breaking-news/visa-byu-student/2204681/

* "Campus activists, misidentified students, a jaywalker. Is this the deportation list the Trump administration is using?:" https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/04/17/metro/zionist-group-deportation-lists/

* More terrifying shit. "Feds say agents went to LA schools to do welfare check on migrant children:" https://apnews.com/article/schools-immigration-federal-agents-los-angeles-fe4d1d3ba3f6a7afe6b749cd6a7f2fcb

* "Rep. Becca Balint unloads on Trump administration for false claims against detained students:" https://www.msnbc.com/ayman-mohyeldin/watch/rep-becca-balint-unloads-on-trump-administration-for-false-claims-against-detained-students-237925445924

* "Trump Admin Tells Afghan Refugees Who Fled Taliban to Self-Deport—Report:" https://www.newsweek.com/trump-admin-tells-afghan-refugees-who-fled-taliban-self-deportreport-2061049

* "‘War on tourism’: Trump set to cost U.S. billions as foreign tourists stay clear:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/-war-on-tourism-trump-set-to-cost-u-s-billions-as-foreign-tourists-stay-clear-237648453688

* " From Lollapalooza to Detention Camps: Meet the Tent Company Making a Fortune Off Trump’s Deportation Plans:" https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-deportations-deployed-resources-tent-company?

* "“They Don’t Care About Civil Rights”: Trump’s Shuttering of DHS Oversight Arm Freezes 600 Cases, Imperils Human Rights:" https://www.propublica.org/article/homeland-security-crcl-civil-rights-immigration-border-patrol-trump-kristi-noem?

* "UO students rally after visa revocations, urge stronger protections for international peers:" https://www.opb.org/article/2025/04/12/university-of-oregon-rally-international-students/

* If you live in Vermont, now is a great time to let your voice be heard. "Vermont Senate leaders urge Gov. Phil Scott to terminate state agreement with federal immigration officials:" https://vtdigger.org/2025/04/15/vermont-senate-leaders-urge-gov-phil-scott-to-terminate-state-agreement-with-federal-immigration-officials/

* "Trump Has a New Target for His Mass Deportations: U.S. Citizens:" https://newrepublic.com/post/193669/donald-trump-target-mass-deportations-us-citizens

* "Trump exposed in 'hot mic' moment planning further abuse of power:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/trump-exposed-in-hot-mic-moment-planning-further-abuse-of-power-237422661695

* "Trump's immigration agenda is not popular:" https://www.gelliottmorris.com/p/trumps-immigration-agenda-isnt-popular

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* "Anti-Trump protesters rally in New York, Washington and elsewhere across the country:" https://apnews.com/article/trump-protests-hands-off-revolutionary-war-anniversary-34218e384bef12bdf3a75a40959f4ede

* "Protesters rally outside White House amid nationwide anti-Trump demonstrations:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/protesters-rally-white-house-nationwide-anti-trump-demonstrations-rcna201993

* I can't show all the protests, but I can show you some to remind people they are ongoing.

* CW: Rape. "Justice Department wants to step in for Trump in E. Jean Carroll appeal:" https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-e-jean-carroll-defamation-case-justice-department/

* "Trump Family’s Crypto Venture Nets $25 Million Investment From Firm Suspected of Fraud:" https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/trump-family-crypto-dwf-1235318209/

* "Busted: Report paints vivid picture of Trump corruption:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/busted-report-paints-vivid-picture-of-trump-corruption-237899333688

* "Nearly 90% of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau cut as Trump’s government downsizing continues:" https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-doge-cfpb-elon-musk-456b747c367fccbcf3b74d2893cd1a35

* "Judge orders halt to mass firings at Consumer Financial Protection Bureau:" https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/judge-orders-halt-mass-firings-consumer-financial-protection/story?id=120951391

* "Judge orders Trump administration to tell fired workers they were not let go for poor performance:" https://apnews.com/article/trump-mass-firings-probationary-workers-e469a427e50f205bb79803a1405dcc3c

* "Introducing Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network:" https://aflcio.org/2025/4/16/introducing-rise-federal-workers-legal-defense-network

* I think we found the Government Waste. "US DOGE Service Agreement With Department of Labor Shows $1.3 Million Fee—and Details Its Mission:" https://www.wired.com/story/department-of-labor-doge-usds-payment/

* Here's more of it: "DOGE Playas, their DOGE Enforcer Pals And the Security Detail You Need to Be a True DOGE-Banger:" https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/doge-playas-their-doge-enforcer-pals-and-the-security-detail-you-need-to-be-a-true-doge-banger

* So they likely have been giving Russian Hackers and who knows who else sensitive data. "5 takeaways about NPR's reporting on the whistleblower report about DOGE at the NLRB:" https://www.npr.org/2025/04/15/nx-s1-5355895/doge-musk-nlrb-takeaways-security

* "DOGE assigns staffers to work at agency where it allegedly removed sensitive data:" https://www.npr.org/2025/04/16/nx-s1-5366851/doge-nlrb-whistleblower-musk-data

* "Elon Musk’s DOGE Is Getting Audited:" https://www.wired.com/story/gao-audit-elon-musk-doge-government-agencies/

* "Elon Musk’s xAI criticized over unauthorized gas turbines at Memphis facility:" https://www.yahoo.com/news/elon-musk-xai-criticized-over-182837823.html

* I can't begin to post all the protests, but I like to ink some now and then so people see they are still going.

* "‘Tesla Takedown’: Protesters gather outside new London Tesla dealership:" https://www.ctvnews.ca/london/article/tesla-takedown-protesters-gather-outside-new-london-tesla-dealership/

* "Tesla Protesters' Poster Says "Send Musk To Mars", He Responds:" https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/elon-musk-responds-to-tesla-protesters-send-musk-to-mars-demand-8166994

* "Anti-Trump protests this weekend turn focus to community action:" https://www.npr.org/2025/04/19/nx-s1-5369483/anti-trump-protests-50501-tesla-takedown

* "Targeting Tesla: Scenes from anti-Musk protests:" https://archive.ph/SJDEl

* "Simulated Musk, Zuckerberg voices are speaking from hacked crosswalk buttons:" https://www.theverge.com/news/647830/crosswalk-hack-musk-zuckerberg-voices-california

* "Trump administration overrode Social Security staff to list immigrants as dead:" https://archive.ph/e4zUd

* "The Social Security Administration Is Gutting Regional Staff and Shifting All Public Communications to X:" https://www.wired.com/story/social-security-administration-regional-office-elon-musk-x/

* "How DOGE may have improperly used Social Security data to push voter fraud narratives:" https://www.npr.org/2025/04/11/nx-s1-5352470/doge-musk-social-security-voting

* "Trump administration plans to end the IRS Direct File program for free tax filing, AP sources say:" https://apnews.com/article/irs-direct-file-tax-returns-free-trump-4bb0bca02fab9b3d06ae6f45ac67b7ab

* "20,000 IRS employees interested in deferred resignation offer as tax deadline looms:" https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/15/irs-resignation-treasury-tax-deadline-trump.html

* "DOGE Cuts Update Today: IRS Doesn't 'Have Time' for Tax Cases Amid Layoffs:" https://www.newsweek.com/doge-cuts-update-irs-layoffs-2059957

Remember, the staffing cuts at the IRS are intended to make things harder for ordinary taxpayers and also to prevent any chance of rich tax cheats being audited, which will drive up the debt, which will the justify yet more cuts to social services.

* "DOGE’s IRS cuts will cost the average American a fortune :" https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/5248491-irs-doge-taxpayer-impacts/

* "Internal budget document reveals extent of Trump’s proposed health cuts:" https://archive.ph/PPYPV

* "RFK Jr. vowed to upend American health care. It’s happening faster than expected.:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/09/rfk-revamp-health-hhs-00280101

* Food Safety has already been deteriorating because of Trump's attacks on food safety last time. It's about to get so much deadlier. "US FDA suspends food safety quality checks after staff cuts:" https://archive.ph/df2sT

* "With tractor parade, Maine farmers protest USDA cuts that could leave many in debt:" https://mainemorningstar.com/2025/04/16/with-tractor-parade-maine-farmers-protest-usda-cuts-that-could-leave-many-in-debt/

* "CDC cruise inspectors laid off as ship arrives in Florida with norovirus outbreak:" https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida/2025/04/14/norovirus-outbreak-cruise-ship-cdc-layoffs-florida/

* "Measles exploded in Texas after stagnant vaccine funding. New cuts threaten the same across the US:" https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccines-funding-cuts-5785985d6b74024b0502f6a2fc1576e2

* "Kennedy draws from misinformation playbook by touting an inhaled steroid to treat measles:" https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/kennedy-draws-misinformation-playbook-touting-inhaled-steroid-treat-me-rcna200085

* "Video shows doctor with measles treating kids. RFK Jr later praised him as an ‘extraordinary’ healer:" https://apnews.com/article/texas-measles-outbreak-rfk-jr-ben-edwards-2dd7c79d47c64ad2e6d4a4ac3c87ec1f

He was highly contagious. Children are dying and he spreads it as much as he can.

* They are cooking the books, which is terrifying. "Ex-official says he was forced out of FDA after trying to protect vaccine safety data from RFK Jr.:" https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2025/ex-official-says-he-was-forced-out-of-fda-after-trying-to-protect-vaccine-safety-data-from-rfk-jr/

* "Top NIH scientist speaks out, says research was ‘censored’ under RFK Jr:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/top-nih-scientist-speaks-out-says-research-was-censored-under-rfk-jr-237788229924

* "Autism rate rises in new CDC report that contradicts RFK Jr. on cause:" https://archive.ph/LVthz

* "Trump and Kennedy Spouting Dangerous Autism Misinformation:" https://autisticadvocacy.org/2025/04/trump-and-kennedy-spouting-dangerous-autism-misinformation/

* "RFK Jr. said autistic people don’t work or play sports. They say he’s wrong.:" https://archive.ph/YPwuR

* "Staffers Walk Out of RFK Jr.’s Slur-Ridden Speech About Deep State:" https://www.thedailybeast.com/staffers-walk-out-of-rfk-jrs-slur-ridden-speech-about-deep-state/

* "Actress Holly Robinson Peete denounces RFK Jr.'s harmful claims about autism:" https://www.msnbc.com/ayman-mohyeldin/watch/actress-holly-robinson-peete-denounces-rfk-jr-s-harmful-claims-about-autism-237928005844

* "'Just a big slogan and propaganda': Kennedy, Oz and Braun met with swift criticism:" https://www.thestatehousefile.com/politics/just-a-big-slogan-and-propaganda-kennedy-oz-and-braun-met-with-swift-criticism/article_d1953c5c-d5c4-431e-a5ec-48ff240775c1.html

* "Federal government to remove gender dysphoria from protected disabilities list:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/gender-dysphoria-removed-protected-disabilities

* "Doctors warn of ‘terrifying’ effects as Trump creates snitch line to report gender-affirming care patients:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/trump-trans-kid-reporting-portal

You know the drill, folks. Try to do credible, but completely false leads they will have to waste their time tracking down. You need things that LLMs/A.I. can't easily weed out.

* "Maine Gov. Janet Mills hits back after Trump sues state for transgender sports policies:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/trump-sues-maine-transgender-sports

* "Federal judge blocks Trump admin's gender-restrictive passport policy:" https://www.advocate.com/news/judge-blocks-passport-gender-restrictions

* "Military families sue Trump administration to keep their school system diverse:" https://www.advocate.com/news/military-familes-sue-pentagon-schools

* "Federal appeals court upholds block on Trump's trans military ban:" https://www.advocate.com/news/trans-military-ban-block-upheld

* "People protest proposed cuts to VA staffing:" https://www.wkow.com/news/people-protest-proposed-cuts-to-va-staffing-healthcare/article_2ae24486-789e-4b31-9e10-aabab48f0bfb.html

* "H.R. McMaster receives accidental call from President Trump:" https://www.cbsnews.com/news/h-r-mcmaster-trump-accidental-call/

The Administration keeps calling the wrong people by accident.

* "Signal War Plans v.s. Hillary's Emails:"

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* "Beyond Showerheads: Trump’s Attempts to Kill Appliance Regulations Cause Chaos:" https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-showerheads-appliances-led-lights-regulation-energy-department-chaos?

* "National Weather Service buyouts will leave gaps as storm season ramps up:" https://archive.ph/SwTG8

* "With fewer weather balloons due to government staffing cuts, forecasts may be less accurate:" https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/weather-balloons-stop-trump-cuts-forecasts-less-accurate-rcna198055

Republicans are doing everything in their power to prevent forewarning of disasters a hamstringing disaster response. Remember, all this is necessary to justify more tax cuts for billionaires.

* "AmeriCorps members who respond to disasters and help nonprofits are let go in DOGE cuts:" https://apnews.com/article/americorps-volunteers-fema-doge-05b1d1cd53e0b5b9f64c17eaba7adf95

* "Schools lined up for help getting cleaner school buses. Then came the EPA freeze:" https://apnews.com/article/trump-electric-school-buses-districts-funding-biden-19fe231d30fc8ff606cae9f6987074c8

* "Lost in the sauce: Stories Trump probably hoped you wouldn't notice while he 'flooded the zone':" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/lost-in-the-sauce-stories-trump-probably-hoped-you-wouldn-t-notice-while-he-flooded-the-zone-237900357720

* "DOGE Visits National Gallery of Art to Discuss Museum’s Legal Status:" https://archive.ph/IBTYR

* "‘A death blow’: Filmmakers, archivists reel as DOGE suddenly cuts their funding:" https://sfstandard.com/2025/04/17/doge-neh-funding-cuts-sf/

* "DOGE cuts at National Endowment for the Humanities hit Carnegie Museums, Phipps and more:" https://www.wesa.fm/arts-culture/2025-04-17/doge-neh-pittsburgh-carnegie-phipps

* "Washington's libraries face 'deep and dramatic' funding cuts as Trump abruptly terminates federal grants:" https://www.kuow.org/stories/washington-libraries-deep-dramatic-cuts-trump-terminates-federal-grants

* "Head Start advocates brace for possibility of Trump eliminating funding:" https://www.npr.org/2025/04/18/nx-s1-5368248/president-trump-head-start

Head start is one of the most valuable and effective education programs that exist. It's a long term investment in children that pays off, not "waste."

* "What to Know About Head Start, the Early Childhood Education Program the Trump Administration Is Proposing to Eliminate:" https://time.com/7278480/head-start-history-effectiveness-trump-hhs-budget-funding-elimination-reactions/

* "Trans Congresswoman Sarah McBride just got Trump to reverse himself in victory for Delaware:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/sarah-mcbride-trump-reversal-victory

* "Trump Administration Retreats From White-Collar Criminal Enforcement:" https://archive.ph/cWdzs

* "Noem threatens Harvard’s ability to enroll international students:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/17/trump-administration-punish-harvard-00295445

* "House GOP probes Harvard over federal funding:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/17/house-gop-probes-harvard-over-federal-funding-00296742

* "Harvard University Announces It Won’t Surrender to Trump:" https://newrepublic.com/post/193977/harvard-university-wont-surrender-trump

* Harvard is doing the right thing instead of caving like Columbia. Other Universities are signing up to resist.

* "MSU faculty join call for Big Ten 'mutual defense compact' against Trump administration:" https://statenews.com/article/2025/04/msu-faculty-join-call-for-big-ten-mutual-defense-compact-against-trump-administration

* "These Faculty Senates Are Trying to Band Together to Stand Up to Trump:" https://www.chronicle.com/article/these-faculty-senates-are-trying-to-band-together-to-stand-up-to-trump

* "'Don't fight alone': Universities band together to defend against Trump attacks:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/-don-t-fight-alone-universities-band-together-to-defend-against-trump-attacks-237521477619

* "Judge temporarily blocks Trump from retaliating against firm that sued Fox News for election lies:" https://apnews.com/article/trump-law-firm-susman-godfrey-eada6cc436533ea3b483568c8287600e

* "Trump Enforcer Shaking Down Law Firms for Billions is Unmasked:" https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trumps-personal-lawyer-boris-epshteyn-is-the-one-shaking-down-big-law-firms/

* "White House shakes up press pool in apparent nod to court ruling:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/15/white-house-changes-press-pool-00292526

* "Bill Maher Had Dinner With Donald Trump, Because of Course He Did:"

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* "From Roe to woes, the days SCOTUS hit 'undo' on half a century of progress:" https://www.advocate.com/scotus-ruling

* Republicans are hoping the 14th Amendment to the constitution will be declared unconstitutional. "Supreme Court to hear arguments on Trump’s bid to start implementing his plan to end birthright citizenship:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/17/supreme-court-end-birthright-citizenship-trump-00296984

* "Mahmoud v. Taylor: Everything to know about the Supreme Court case to ban LGBTQ+ books:" https://www.advocate.com/news/mahmoud-v-taylor-lgbtq-books

* "ACLU and LGBTQ+ groups defend Maryland schools' LGBTQ+ curriculum in Supreme Court filing:" https://www.advocate.com/news/school-opt-out-challenged

* I do not want to go back to how it was in my youth. "What to know about the Supreme Court case that could take away your access to PrEP and other care:" https://www.advocate.com/news/supreme-court-prep-case-explained

* "The Cruelty of Medicaid Work Requirements:" https://time.com/7260543/medicaid-work-requirements-disability-essay/

* "White House to send Congress a formal request to nix $9.3B for PBS, NPR, State Department:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/14/white-house-to-send-congress-a-formal-request-to-nix-9-3b-for-pbs-state-department-00289543

Now is the time to hammer your Congress Critters phonelines about why we need NPR and PBS.

* "Lisa Murkowski Says 'We Are All Afraid' Of Retaliation By Donald Trump:" https://www.huffpost.com/entry/lisa-murkowski-donald-trump_n_6800fb8ae4b027910a15d38f

* "Trump’s pick to lead the IRS raked in donations to pay off campaign debt after he was announced:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/16/billy-long-irs-campaign-donations-00293051

* "Trump pick to head IRS raises red flags with sketchy ties, disappearing debt:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/trump-pick-to-head-irs-raises-red-flags-with-sketchy-ties-disappearing-debt-237903941510

* "Minimum Wage Increase for 20 Million Proposed Under New Bill:" https://www.newsweek.com/minimum-wage-increase-20-million-americans-proposed-new-bill-2059403?_bhlid=c646c53e777103df2a00a722dd2405c8418f77fd

* "What the SAVE Act could mean for millions of voters, according to a Brennan Center expert:" https://www.npr.org/2025/04/15/nx-s1-5361192/house-elections-save-act-voting-rights

* "Trump and Republicans Are Leading an Open Assault on Free Elections:" https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/trump-republicans-elections-voting-rights-attack-1235316895/

* "In Rural America, the SAVE Act Is a Direct Attack on the Freedom To Vote | Opinion:" https://www.newsweek.com/rural-america-save-act-direct-attack-freedom-vote-opinion-2061138

* "Dem Senators Introduce Logging Bill That Would Hand Over Keys to National Forests to Trump Administration:" https://oregonwild.org/fix-our-forests-senate-antienvironment-bill/

* "The Problems with the Fix Our Forests Act, which Aims to Totally F**k Our Forests:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/1LUE2J-ujYs

* I can't remotely post all the rally/town hall stuff, I am sorry.

* "Thousands gather for 'Fighting Oligarchy' tour led by Sanders, AOC in Folsom:" https://www.kcra.com/article/bernie-sanders-aoc-fighting-oligarchy-folsom/64488745

* "‘We got ‘em scared!’: AOC and Bernie draw massive crowds in red states:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/-we-got-em-scared-aoc-and-bernie-draw-massive-crowds-in-red-states-237658181542

* "Rep. Dean explains why an anti-Trump town hall moved her to tears:" https://www.msnbc.com/jonathan-capehart/watch/rep-dean-explains-why-an-anti-trump-town-hall-moved-her-to-tears-237926469511

---

* Our job for the next two years is to survive, to build grassroots resistance, to do all in our power to slow the republican Christo-fascist agenda, and to prepare for 2026 in case there is still Democracy.

We are trying to build a good list of resistance resources.

Please add more below if you have them.

* Trump 2.0 Indivisible Guide.  https://indivisible.org/resource/guide

* "Democracy 2025:" https://www.democracy2025.org/?utm_source=df-ad&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=21912407002&utm_content=721373734297&source=df-ad-gs&gad_source=1

* "Resisting Fascism in 2025 and Beyond:" https://www.prideandpagesbookclub.com/resisting-fascism-in-2025-and-beyond

* If you can't safely contact them in person, here are some other options for contacting your Congress Critters:

Five Calls to your critters: https://5calls.org/

Here is one that will send your reps a fax: https://resist.bot/

"Congress. gov:" https://www.congress.gov/

White house (Possibly Dangerous): https://www.whitehouse.gov/

ACLU advice for writing to your Critters: https://www.aclu.org/writing-your-elected-representatives

Script to complain about Elon Musk/DOGE. I also suggest contacting your AG about data privacy. "Introducing Red State Scripts, Vol. 1:" https://homewiththearmadillo.blog/2025/02/10/introducing-red-state-scripts-vol-1/

* This tracks legislation: https://www.govtrack.us/

* "Vote Smart:" https://justfacts.votesmart.org/

* Useful organizing links and resources: https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/771859083592613888/hater-of-terfs-ive-already-reblogged-a-link-to?source=share

* Run for Something: https://runforsomething.net/

* How to render emergency aid in a riot: https://riotmedicine.net/static/downloads/riot-medicine_a5.pdf

* "How to Safely and Ethically Film Police Misconduct:" https://www.teenvogue.com/story/how-to-film-police-safely

* Avoiding Activist Burnout: https://www.tumblr.com/veluigi/771755723969478656/on-twitter-im-seeing-dozens-of-threads-from-black?source=share

* "ICE Raids Toolkit: Defend Against ICE Raids and Community Arrests:" https://www.immigrantdefenseproject.org/raids-toolkit/

* Contains a raid tip hotline amoung other things. "Know Your Rights
LEARN HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY:" https://wearecasa.org/know-your-rights/

* Free Bystander training amoung other useful things. "Right to Be Training:" https://righttobe.org/upcoming-free-trainings/

---

* "Anti-LGBTQ+ Texas AG Ken Paxton announces U.S. Senate bid:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/ken-paxton-runs-senate

* " Georgia governor signs religious liberty law, worrying LGBTQ+ advocates who say it'll allow discrimination:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/georgia-religious-freedom-act-signed

* "Alabama House passes 'Don't Say Gay,' drag ban, and Ten Commandments bills all at once:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/alabama-gay-drag-ten-commandments

* "'Andy, that's not true:' Texas Republican mocked after admitting he doesn't know what intersex is:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/texas-republican-doesnt-know-intersex

* "Even in liberal Massachusetts, Republicans are attacking trans athletes:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/massachusetts-transgender-sports-ban-advances

* "Out gay Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signs law repealing marriage equality ban:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/colorado-marriage-equality-ban-repealed

* "Budget gets bipartisan support in the Senate: Bill unexpectedly repeals caseload limitations for child protection agency:" https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2025/04/15/budget-gets-bipartisan-support-in-the-senate/

* Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey Interview: https://www.advocate.com/politics/pittsburgh-mayor-ed-gainey-interview

* "Judge finds Newsmax aired false and defamatory claims about voting-tech company:" https://www.npr.org/2025/04/09/nx-s1-5357885/newsmax-dominion-defamation-2020-election

* "U.K. trans groups respond to high court ruling that trans women aren’t considered women under equalities law:" https://www.advocate.com/news/uk-court-definition-woman-cisgender

* "U.S. activists call U.K. anti-trans ruling 'a serious blow' to human rights:" https://www.advocate.com/news/american-activists-british-antitrans-ruling

* "When Therapists Lose Their Licenses, Some Turn to the Unregulated Life Coaching Industry Instead:" https://www.propublica.org/article/utah-therapists-life-coaches-regulation

* "Americans With Food Allergies Are Getting a Bad Deal:" https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2024/06/food-allergy-read-fda-warning-label/678731/

* CW: Suicide "A Disaster of the U.S. Military’s Own Making:" https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/19/magazine/suicide-military-austin-valley.html

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* "Why isn’t extreme heat considered a disaster in the U.S.?:" https://www.npr.org/2024/06/18/nx-s1-5003785/extreme-heat-disaster-fema-climate?

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* "Creating a throw-away culture: How companies ingrained plastics in modern life:" https://www.npr.org/2024/06/09/nx-s1-4942415/disposable-plastic-pollution-waste-single-use-recycling-climate-change-fossil-fuels

* "The world is drowning in plastic.:" https://www.propublica.org/article/delusion-advanced-chemical-plastic-recycling-pyrolysis

* "Traffic engineers build roads that invite crashes because they rely on outdated research and faulty data:" https://theconversation.com/traffic-engineers-build-roads-that-invite-crashes-because-they-rely-on-outdated-research-and-faulty-data-223710

* "The West Coast’s Fanciest Stolen Bikes Are Getting Trafficked by One Mastermind in Jalisco, Mexico:" https://www.wired.com/story/silicon-valleys-fanciest-stolen-bikes-trafficked-mastermind-jalisco-mexico/

* "Banks Are Finally Realizing What Climate Change Will Do to Housing:" https://www.wired.com/story/banks-are-finally-realizing-what-climate-change-will-do-to-housing/

* "Potatoes Are the Perfect Vegetable—but You’re Eating Them Wrong:" https://www.wired.com/story/potatoes-are-the-perfect-vegetable-but-youre-eating-them-wrong/

* "Inside the Slimy, Smelly, Secretive World of Glass-Eel Fishing:" https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/06/24/inside-the-slimy-smelly-secretive-world-of-glass-eel-fishing

* "These oldest inhabited termite mounds have been active for 34,000 years:" https://apnews.com/article/oldest-termite-mounds-africa-climate-eb9b49dbbbb770c739398cef894a99a8

* "Videos Show That Leeches Can Jump in Pursuit of Blood:" https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/20/science/jumping-leeches.html?unlocked_article_code=1.1E0.hCBE.hbEw5KUNR8vp&utm_source=DamnInteresting

* "The Koala Paradox: Can Australia find a way to protect its most beloved animal?:" https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2024/07/australia-koala-crisis-protection/678493/

* "Study shows elephants might call each other by name:" https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/study-shows-elephants-might-call-each-other-by-name-2024-06-10/

* "More Than a Century Ago, Flamingos Disappeared From Florida. Now, They’re Coming Home:" https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/more-than-a-century-ago-flamingos-disappeared-from-florida-now-theyre-coming-home-180984492/

* "Records of Pompeii’s survivors have been found – and archaeologists are starting to understand how they rebuilt their lives:" https://theconversation.com/records-of-pompeiis-survivors-have-been-found-and-archaeologists-are-starting-to-understand-how-they-rebuilt-their-lives-230641

* "The Curious Melodic Case of The Regina Music Box :" https://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/the-curious-melodic-case-of-the-regina-music-box/

* "Letters Reveal the Life of a 20-Something in 18th-Century London:" https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/letters-life-18th-century-london

* "There’s a Better Way to Teach the California Gold Rush:" https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/theres-a-better-way-to-teach-the-california-gold-rush-180984544/

* "No, President Trump, the Income Tax Wasn’t A Mistake. But It Was an Accident.:" https://www.propublica.org/article/history-income-tax-history-16th-amendment-trump-tariffs-great-depression

* "Bubble Girl: The kidnapping that once riveted the nation:" https://theamericanscholar.org/bubble-girl-1/

* "Worse Than Signalgate:" https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2025/04/world-war-i-accidental-leak/682393/

* "What is "Haute Couture"? And why is it French?:"

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* "The Scandalous History of the Tuxedo:"

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* "How the Fridge Changed Flavor:" https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-weekend-essay/how-the-fridge-changed-flavor

* "The Best Actress Oscar Race of 1950:"

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* I want to thank everyone who contributed to the Squirrel Fundraiser. They think they will be all right now.

* One of the things we got out of last week's marathon bureaucracy is Goth Millennial is getting paid to be my aid again. We also carved out eight hours a month for New Millennial. They started getting paid for their work Wednesday.

Let us hope I get to keep my home care aid hours. We should find out soon.

I took them both on Wednesday errands, which was delightful. I used the motorized cart and spent as much time as possible while waiting things in the car with my seat reclined, reading. When we got back I was exhausted, but we also needed to do a full sofa change for the second day in a row because the emperor is being above and beyond destructive just now.

Them: I haven't seen you this exhausted after errands in months.
Me: I kept having to use all the spoons last week. There is a price for that.

This is a reminder for those of you who are not disabled or are recently disabled that this is what pushing through DOES when you are disabled. Yes, the Millennials got their job stuff sorted out and I'm re-certified as still disabled (Every five years I need to prove to various agencies that my spine hasn't spontaneously regenerated to a pristine state, nor my joints, nor my lungs.) and I've shored up my SSI stuff best I can, and we got the cleaning done in time for both inspections, etc., etc. But I'm pretty much going to be fucked physically for a couple of weeks and I got way behind on EVERYTHING last week because there wasn't anything left most days so I kept going to bed hungry and very early and didn't do the stuff I can normally manage.

I am going to be paying and paying and paying.

Tavy did get a nice cuddle nap on me, then go sit on Goth Millennial for a while for pettins until the humans needed to rearrange themselves for dinner.

* Something has gone dramatically wrong with my bank account. I suspect paypal allowed a secret autowithdraw again at exactly the wrong time, which I will need to track down, as a bill I'd scheduled to pay with more than enough money in the account rather suddenly caused an overdraft. (I checked it wasn't Amazon prime randomly reactivating again, but it's a pain in the ass finding the right tab on paypal. I will do that next.) I had some cash I'd socked away at the beginning of the month in case I needed it for inspection cleaning. I put it back in in time to patch the hole, but when Insuarnce auto-withdraws hit, I am fucked. I think $70.00 would cover those plus fees.

Want to help? https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/Gwydion

* "HP-like LGBT Books (not written by a TERF):" https://www.tumblr.com/profiterole-reads/666484154723090432/hp-like-lgbt-books-not-written-by-a-terf

* "How Tim Burton Butchered Sweeney Todd:"

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* "Hunger Hurts: Cannibals and Why We're Obsessed with Them:"

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* Interview with Chuck Tingle: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3FycrHnScQ9KViVrcbdx4W?go=1&sp_cid=59b2ae97b301ef8280618aec96e6c4e8&nd=1&dlsi=5c5fb47f80f44c34

* "How Do Religions Use Art?: Crash Course Art History #8:"

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* "Why autism portrayal is one-dimensional—and how to change it | Chloé Hayden | TEDxSydney Youth:"

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* "Shop 'til You Drop: Horror's Condemnation of Overconsumption:"

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* "Illustrious Iliad:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/M9qW-z39hrk

* "The White Potus - SNL:"

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* "Medication Ad - SNL:"

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*****
* 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.

* "United States Disappeared Tracker:" https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/danielleharlow/viz/UnitedStatesDisappearedTracker/Map

* "Nationwide Economic Blackout: Boycott Dates for Target, Amazon, Others:" https://www.newsweek.com/nationwide-economic-blackout-boycott-dates-target-amazon-others-2037986

* "Introducing Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network:" https://aflcio.org/2025/4/16/introducing-rise-federal-workers-legal-defense-network

( More Links Underneath: )

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* "Rafah is a rubble-strewn ghost town 2 months after Israel invaded to root out Hamas:" https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/rafah-dusty-rubble-strewn-ghost-town-2-months-111724487

* "Israeli military orders the evacuation of Gaza City, an early target of its war with Hamas:" https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-07-10-2024-6358a61735f0e30132decce781860594

* "If you are struggling with choosing which fundraisers to support, please consider donating to the following places providing medical aid, food, and other supplies to Palestine at this time:" https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/750500230956564480?source=share

* Links for various Palestinian Aid Organizations: https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/750151174318112768?source=share

******

* "Israel approves the largest Palestinian West Bank land grab in three decades:" https://www.salon.com/2024/07/03/israel-approves-the-largest-palestinian-west-land-grab-in-three-decades/

* "Protesters call ‘shut down’ on Sunday, demanding elections on 9-month war milestone:" https://www.timesofisrael.com/protesters-call-shut-down-on-sunday-demanding-elections-on-9-month-war-milestone/

******

* "F-16s head to Ukraine to begin flights this summer:" https://www.politico.com/news/2024/07/10/f-16s-fighter-jets-ukraine-00167265

* "Russian missile attack kills 36, hits children's hospital, Ukraine says:" https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukrainian-air-defence-engaged-repelling-russian-missile-attack-kyiv-officials-2024-07-08/

* "Ukrainian attacks on supply lines slowed Russians in Kharkiv, intercepts show:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/07/08/ukraine-intercepts-russia-kharkiv-supplies/

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* "Reformist Pezeshkian beats hard-liner to win Iran presidential election, promising outreach to West:" https://apnews.com/article/iran-presidential-election-runoff-jalili-pezeshkian-results-8a10c940adc1259566791b549828a3fd

* "French vote gives leftists most seats over far right, but leaves hung parliament and deadlock:" https://apnews.com/article/france-elections-far-right-macron-08f10a7416a2494c85dcd562f33401d1

* "‘Popular front:’ How a pro-democracy coalition could unite to defeat Trump:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/-popular-front-how-a-pro-democracy-coalition-could-unite-to-defeat-trump-214540869778

* "Why Nicolás Maduro appears 13 times on the ballot for Venezuela’s presidential election:" https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-presidential-election-maduro-ballot-opposition-195ae6a6db441f8759a28b6694355c81

* "‘Freedom!’ chants at Venezuelan opposition rallies ahead of election show depth of needs and fear:" https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-election-maduro-opposition-machado-edmundo-freedom-1d9aab83e201fcfa911ca1d1f72bdc80

* "Canada’s First Grocery Store Where Food is FREE Opens in Saskatchewan:" https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/canadas-1st-full-scale-free-grocery-store-to-open-in-saskatchewan/

* "Two US states ask Supreme Court to rule on anti-trans sports bans:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/07/12/west-virginia-idaho-title-ix-trans-sport/

* "Clarence Thomas Took Free Yacht Trip to Russia, Chopper Flight to Putin’s Hometown: Dems:" https://www.thedailybeast.com/clarence-thomas-accepted-yacht-trip-to-russia-chopper-flight-to-putins-hometown-democrats

* "The Supreme Court Destroyed The Government While You Weren't Looking:"

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* "US inflation cools again, potentially paving way for Fed to cut interest rates soon:" https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-rates-economy-federal-reserve-biden-8d15ca77433a1ae072a1e63dfc089f24

* "How Joe Biden turned the American economy into the ‘envy of the world’:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/how-joe-biden-turned-the-american-economy-into-the-envy-of-the-world-214782533820

* "Lawmakers want to know why there are fewer LGBTQ+ homeowners than straight: 'Concerning disparities':" https://www.advocate.com/exclusives/lgbtq-homeowner-disparities-congress-letter

* "Dick Durbin’s Spineless Delay on Supreme Court Corruption:" https://newrepublic.com/post/183717/dick-durbin-cowardly-supreme-court-thomas-alito

* "Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez filed separate articles of impeachment Wednesday against Supreme Court justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito.:" https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/07/10/congress/aoc-impeachment-articles-against-alito-thomas-00167335

* "Senators demand special counsel investigation into Justice Clarence Thomas:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/senators-demand-special-counsel-investigation-into-justice-clarence-thomas-214529605507

* Action Item. Tell Congress to vote for HR 8206: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C864IfRx1DH/

* Stop the government censoring queer and other minority voices off the Internet in the US : https://www.stopkosa.com/

* Have something you want to tell your Congress Critters? If you can't safely contact them 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://resist.bot/
To get your Critters' numbers to call direct: https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member

* The Indivisible Guide: "A Practical Guide to defeating MAGA:" https://indivisible.org/sites/default/files/2023-01/20220104_Indivisible_%20A%20Practical%20Guide%20to%20Defeating%20MAGA.pdf

* "Trump’s Fake Electors Will Be Front and Center at RNC:" https://newrepublic.com/post/183712/trump-fake-electors-rnc-republican-national-convention

* "What to know about legal battles on details of abortion rights ballot measures across US:" https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/legal-battles-details-abortion-rights-ballot-measures-us-111896160

* "Nonbinary representation in government is on the rise with a record number of out elected officials:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/lgbtq-elected-officials-record-nonbinary

* "School district ejects board members who voted to ban Pride flags:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/07/12/school-district-voted-ban-pride/

* Primaries are Ongoing:
Important! Remember to vote in all primaries!!!

NOTE: Important non-Presidential Primaries are also ongoing! Remember to vote in all the races, not just the top of the ticket. Who runs congress, your state, and your local government really matters. In some states this is a separate primary. Check the rules for your state. This is how you push the party and the government left.

Tennessee (Congress): 8/1/24

Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Washington: 8/6/24

Hawaii: 8/10/24

Connecticut, Minnesota, Vermont, Wisconsin: 8/13/24

Know your state's schedule and where to vote. Make sure you and your friends are registered. If you are voting in person, plan how to get there.

Never, ever sleep on a chance to vote.

It is always better to vote for someone who will listen to us than to let someone who is actively trying to kill us.

* "On campaign trail, RFK Jr. pushes 'bonkers' theory about CIA's 'takeover of the American press':" https://abcnews.go.com/US/campaign-trail-rfk-jr-pushes-bonkers-theory-cias/story?id=111274658

* "RFK Jr. pledges to ‘open the files’ on 9/11 attacks:" https://www.politico.com/news/2024/07/05/rfk-jr-911-attacks-00166671

* "Is Nicole Shanahan Flirting With QAnon and Christian Nationalism?:" https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/nicole-shanahan-rfk-jr-demonic-1235046740/

* "Read the letter President Biden sent to House Democrats telling them to support him in the election:" https://apnews.com/article/biden-letter-democrats-4562a72aa3a891e55261617d0d494d00

* "White House doctor offers explanation for Parkinson's expert's visits:" https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/white-house-doctor-offers-explanation-parkinsons-experts-visits/story?id=111764565

* "New York Post publishes racist article about Kamala Harris, sparks outrage:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/new-york-post-racist-harris

* "‘Gross and getting worse’: Trump allies step up racist, sexist attacks on Kamala Harris:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/-gross-and-getting-worse-trump-allies-step-up-racist-sexist-attacks-on-kamala-harris-214786117593

* "NYT editorial board calls Trump ‘unfit to lead’:" https://www.politico.com/news/2024/07/11/trump-new-york-times-00167529

* "Trump chooses wrong side as global democracy hangs in the balance:" https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/trump-chooses-wrong-side-as-global-democracy-hangs-in-the-balance-214714437627

* "Stunning Report Reveals Just How Closely Trump Is Tied to Project 2025:" https://newrepublic.com/post/183706/report-trump-ties-project-2025

* "Trump’s Claim to ‘Know Nothing’ About Project 2025 Is Ridiculous:" https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/donald-trump-project-2025-1235053996/

* Easy to read Project 2025 summary: https://www.tumblr.com/cleolinda/755715549458300928?source=share

* "'Drill, baby, drill': Trump’s Project 2025 would gut all U.S climate policy:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/-drill-baby-drill-trump-s-project-2025-would-gut-all-u-s-climate-policy-214541381680

* "Trump panics as public gets wise to Project 2025, 'authoritarian how-to manual':" https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/trump-panics-as-public-gets-wise-to-project-2025-authoritarian-how-to-manual-214793285812

* "Who would pull Trump's strings in a second Trump administration? Check the Mar-a-Lago guest list.:" https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/who-would-pull-trump-s-strings-in-a-second-trump-administration-check-the-mar-a-lago-guest-list-214623813922

* "The MAGAts are demanding our pre-emptive surrender. Why do you think that is?:" https://solarbird.net/blog/2024/07/06/the-magats-are-demanding-our-pre-emptive-surrender-why-do-you-think-that-is/

* "A Trump Ally Is Training 75 Armed Citizens. Is That a Militia?:" https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/11/nyregion/bruce-blakeman-armed-citizens-long-island.html

* "Trump's right-hand guy: The man behind Project 2025 and the MAGA dating app:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/trump-s-right-hand-guy-the-man-behind-project-2025-and-the-maga-dating-app-214614085835

* "If you think Project 2025 is scary, take a look at Donald Trump's Agenda 47:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/agenda47-donald-trump-project-2025

* "Tell your family that climate change is actually real and Trump wants more of it.:" https://solarbird.dreamwidth.org/1982626.html

* "When you talk to your Trumpy family and friends…:" https://solarbird.dreamwidth.org/1983297.html

* "Ron DeSantis vetoes millions in arts funding to shut down Florida's fringe festivals:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/desantis-vetoes-millions-arts-funding

* "Texas AG Ken Paxton is getting free help from Stephen Miller's America First Legal:" https://www.lawdork.com/p/texas-ag-ken-paxton-is-getting-free

* "Lauren Boebert mercilessly mocked for calling White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre a 'DEI hire':" https://www.advocate.com/politics/lauren-boebert-white-house-press-secretary-dei-hire

---

* "Judge Aileen Cannon grants Trump's request to pause some deadlines in classified documents case amid immunity questions:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/judge-aileen-cannon-grants-trump-request-pause-classified-documents-rcna160547

---

* "Hundreds of Patriot Front right-wing extremists march through Nashville:" https://www.advocate.com/news/patriot-front-nashville-march

* "We Need To Talk About Cop Cities: They're Everywhere:"

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* "Police Helicopter Flights and Spending Soar in New York City:" https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2024-nyc-police-helicopter-flights/?cmpid=BBD061824_CITYLAB

* "You can’t start from the top; you have to start with the people:" https://solarbird.dreamwidth.org/1983097.html

* "Planning parenthood for incarcerated men:" https://19thnews.org/2024/06/planning-parenthood-for-incarcerated-men/

* "Florida Republicans terrorized a teacher because of a Black Lives Matter flag. She hit back and won:" https://www.salon.com/2024/06/19/florida-terrorized-a-teacher-because-of-a-black-lives-matter-flag-she-hit-back-and-won/

---

* "Why Hurricane Beryl was more than Houston could handle:" https://www.vox.com/climate/360181/climate-hurricane-beryl-blackout-houston-flood

---

* "“Burned House” Mystery: Why Did This Ancient Culture Torch Its Own Homes Every 60 Years?:" https://daily.jstor.org/burned-house-mystery-why-did-this-ancient-culture-torch-its-own-homes-every-60-years/

* "Jim Inhofe, 89, dies after a long Senate career marked by fight against climate science:" https://www.politico.com/news/2024/07/09/senator-jim-inhofe-obituary-00167021

* "James Inhofe, anti-LGBTQ+ former Republican senator, dead at 89:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/james-inhofe-antigay-senator-dead

* "What, to the Black trans woman, is the Fourth of July:" https://www.advocate.com/voices/trans-fourth-of-july

* "A man is caught attempting to smuggle 100 live snakes into China in his pants:" https://www.npr.org/2024/07/10/nx-s1-5035210/100-live-snakes-pants-smuggle-china

* "Drugs Disguised As Taco Bell Burritos Found During Traffic Stop:" https://wabx.net/2024/07/09/drugs-disguised-as-taco-bell-burritos-found-durring-traffic-stop/

* Apparently the crack down on illegal fireworks spurred by wildfire risk is working. Not only did we not get a week of random explosions, I couldn't hear professional explosions or neighborhood ones unless I went outside. No one set anything off in my complex let alone right under the living room window as is the usual practice. As far as I could tell the cats didn't notice.

The sky has been subtly uncanny valley for... I'm guessing a weekish? It's the wrong colour. No clouds. Yes, in a lot of places no clouds is fine, but here, there are almost always clouds of some sort. Normal cloudless periods are like a couple hours at most. Day after day of no clouds at all is absolutely a climate change thing in our weird little micro-environment, it's only been happening for a few years and I associate it with wildfires. The sky isn't bruise or orange, so that's good, but now and then, I get a whiff of something burning that shouldn't be. I can't explain it, but the sky's the wrong shade of blue to the south. Without clouds, the sky is too big here.

It is very much not helping that I keep having to go out into the extreme heat and pollen, whether I want to or not and it's a problem. I have had heat exhaustion, and once, likely heat stroke, but wasn't given proper medical attention at the time. (I'm not writing about it again now; I am tired). I was never particularly good at high heat and humidity. I can't really function in it at all now. Add in all the pollen and i struggle to think and breath and move about.

The cats are stressed, of, course, but it's because they are worried about my health (I'm moving in ways that show obvious extreme pain and exhaustion) and because of two months of massive disruptions to their schedules and periodic human intruders including men with boots. These things are also fraying at me, but I didn't piss all over the sofa, nor did I start a literal pissing contest with a cat in another part of town over which cat Goth Millennial belongs to. My having to deal with all the extra mess and laundry is not helping. I am looking very hard at you, Tavy. (The Emperor Octavian totally started it. King Henry was simply responding in kind to what amounted to an imperial power grab).

My physio is going very badly. I keep having to pull chunks of exercise sets because my arm nopes out or standing hurts to much to do that many of the ones I can only do standing up.

I did take some of the Millennials out to the lake Sunday. We tried to go to the one without invasive wildlife, but spent ages just to not get in. I drove back to my end of town. I always liked that lake better, but you have to decontaminate everything to avoid spreading the snails kayakers brought from Aotearoa. I didn't see any fish, and it looked like there were fewer dragonflies. I'm wondering if the snails are messing up breeding for native species in the reeds they colonized. The trees and the water were still beautiful though. We swam until my arm gave out and we had cheese, crackers, and fresh lychee while watching families swim.

Then the assholes turned up. Apparently they had been there hours earlier, as they claimed that the crumpled up abandoned looking towel they'd casually dropped at the edge of the cut a body length away from us meant that we were encroaching on them somehow. It was a crowded day at the lake. Four feet would not have been a weird distance even if we hadn't thought it was just a lost towel or they'd had it spread out with gear like a normal person. We weren't blocking access. We had to be close to the water because I'm an older disabled person, and as it was, the crawl from the water's edge was purgatorial. (I decided it would be easier and hurt less then them levering me up and me hobbling the distance. Did I mention my spine and hips are nightmares right now?)

So the assholes got angry at us for not intuiting that they owned a 15 yard stretch of close to the water space in a public park by virtue of them having dropped a balled up towel near it. O.o It was 6:30ish PM. You literally can't get a sunburn that late at this latitude, because the angles are wrong. They stood close and sprayed and sprayed and sprayed arisol sunblock all over each other which billowed towards us in a cloud. And not just us, but a dad and a two and a half year old toddler. I mentioned I was a lung patient, so she started blowing massive about of vape at us. And the dad. And the toddler with delicate lungs, because that's just how entitled they were to the entire stretch of land between two batches of reeds and we all deserved chemical warfare for daring to do normal things at the lake. Which as douche bag white 20 somethings they owned. We all got sore throats and queasy, I was coughing and had lung and breathing trouble all night. The Millennials were angry they were doing this to an elder, especially one who had an assistive devise and was obviously disabled. I was angry that they did this to a baby playing along the thin stretch of beach with her dad watching over her.

I am pretty sure I am not the asshole here.

Bonus? We lost the housing increase battle and somehow I must find an extra $142 a month starting in august while still paying all the other bills and buying things I can't do without, like toilet paper. I am still catching up for the refrigerator. The Millennials are all going through a bunch of no fault of their own crises too and two of them need to move by the end of the month.

It is A LOT. Especially in this terrible unnatural heat.

* I was kind of a mess at physio. We did a couple of things and then he spent the bulk of the session working on my arm. He thinks that I am using my pectoral muscles too much trying to compensate for my completely thrashed deltoids. That's my assignment along with continuing to try to undo the thing where the wrong sling fucked up arm alignment and posture from the previous session, plus trying to do the excercises, which generally eats up a couple hours of my night if my arm is working.

It's funny how lying still and having someone else work my arm thrashes me almost as much as swimming to exhaustion. Bodies are weird. Thursday night I was so tired that I basically fed myself and did my daily poll stuff on tumblr, then had to go right back to bed.

This means all the news links are just sitting there waiting for me to get to them instead of at least half posted to tumblr and scaffolded for the aggregate. Sigh. I am on track to do all or most of the Friday physio, at least. (I owe for sets of two types of excercises. One easy, one mid-range as of 5PM).

My physio got approved by Medicare for another cycle, which is good, because, really, I'm making very little progress to an utterly discouraging extent. Unfortunately they are way booked, so there will be massive gaps in August and September and this cycle is running to mid-October. (Yikes!) Let's hope some sort of progress occurs. I'm a little freaked that my arm still collapses when I try to lift anything over gtwo pounds and I can't hold my arm out straight to the side without help.

* "Project 2025 Is Trump's Blueprint For A Radical Conservative Takeover Of The U.S. Government:"

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* "Meanwhile... Matthew McConaughey Is OK | Margarita Butt Funnel | Heinz Every Sauce:"

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* "Meanwhile… Taco Bell Drugs | Real Skin Robot Face | S’mores Instant Ramen:"

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* "I Need Help! (An Important Channel Announcement) | READUS 101:"

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* "Play Mystery Candidate Today!:"

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* "Who Hacked Gov. Kristi Noem’s Socials?:"

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* "Emma, Part II:" https://www.thechatner.com/p/emma-part-ii?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=5&post_id=146399570&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=ykw2&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

* "Sunday Sweets Dives Under The Sea:" https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/sunday-sweets-dives-under-the-sea-2024
*****
* 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.

* "Support a Global Plastics Treaty:" https://act.greenpeace.ca/en-ca/support-global-plastics-treaty

* "Black Alliance for Peace’s Atlanta Citywide Alliance:" https://linktr.ee/bapatlanta

* Map of Cop Cities planned or being built: https://isyourlifebetter.net/cop-cities-usa/

* "if you are struggling with choosing which fundraisers to support, please consider donating to the following places providing medical aid, food, and other supplies to palestine at this time:" https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/750500230956564480?source=share

* Links for various Palestinian Aid Organizations: https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/750151174318112768?source=share

* "World Central Kitchen:" https://wck.org/

* "Palestine Children’s Relief Fund:" https://pcrf1.app.neoncrm.com/forms/gaza-recovery

( More Links Underneath: )

* I'm doing better, but I still tire easily and the physio is already getting ugly. This means I'm going to run out of things like energy and pain resistance without much warning.

The pain has been and continues to be stunning this week.

---

* "Israel says it will send more troops to Rafah, as fighting also rages in Gaza’s north:" https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-hamas-latest-05-16-2024-c7318fc513e79580082c0a80ae6878b6

* "Strike kills U.N. aid worker, injures another in southern Gaza:" https://www.npr.org/2024/05/14/1251272912/gaza-united-nations-un-aid-worker-killed

* "‘Outrageous’ arson attack forces UNRWA to temporarily shutter East Jerusalem compound:" https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/05/1149586

* "Israeli activists attack Gaza aid convoy, drawing U.S. condemnation and highlighting risk to aid work:" https://www.cbsnews.com/news/israel-gaza-aid-west-bank-settlers-united-nations/

* "Gaza: Israelis Attacking Known Aid Worker Locations:" https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/05/14/gaza-israelis-attacking-known-aid-worker-locations#:~:text=As%20of%20April%2030%2C%20the,injuring%20at%20least%20one%20more.

* It won't be enough. "US establishes Gaza pier to try to boost aid to hungry enclave:" https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-establishes-gaza-pier-try-boost-aid-hungry-enclave-2024-05-16/

* "if you are struggling with choosing which fundraisers to support, please consider donating to the following places providing medical aid, food, and other supplies to palestine at this time:" https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/750500230956564480?source=share

* Links for various Palestinian Aid Organizations: https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/750151174318112768?source=share

******
* "U.S. report says it's 'reasonable to assess' that Israel has violated humanitarian law:" https://www.npr.org/2024/05/10/1250442216/u-s-report-says-reasonable-to-assess-that-israel-has-violated-humanitarian-law

* "Rep. Jayapal on Contradictions in State. Dept. Report on Israeli Conduct in Gaza:" https://www.msnbc.com/ayman-mohyeldin/watch/rep-jayapal-on-contradictions-in-state-dept-report-on-israeli-conduct-in-gaza-210763333765

* "Army Officer Resigns in Protest of ‘Unqualified’ U.S. Support to Israel:" https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/13/us/army-officer-resigns-gaza-israel.html

* "Interior Dept staffer becomes first Jewish Biden appointee to publicly resign over war in Gaza:" https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/interior-dept-staffer-jewish-biden-appointee-publicly-resign-110272884

* "Member of Israel’s War Cabinet says he’ll quit the government June 8 unless there’s a new war plan:" https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-war-05-18-2024-3ac9d8e59198d5884d0faa6649a53e4f

* "Water cannon used to disperse anti-government protesters in Tel Aviv:" https://apnews.com/video/israel-hamas-war-protests-and-demonstrations-tel-aviv-israel-benjamin-netanyahu-14c6787047b940caa67d663c59c15702

* "Sen. Lindsey Graham Suggests Nuking Gaza, Calls Hiroshima ‘the Right Decision’:" https://www.thedailybeast.com/sen-lindsey-graham-suggests-nuking-gaza-calls-hiroshima-the-right-decision

* "Republican Congressman Joins Lindsey Graham in Calls to Nuke Gaza:" https://newrepublic.com/post/181580/republican-congressman-greg-murphy-nuke-gaza

* "Pro-Palestinian protests continue on I-5 overpass in Bellingham:" https://mybellinghamnow.com/news/297792-pro-palestinian-protests-continue-on-i-5-overpass-in-bellingham/

* "Pro-Palestine encampment forms on WWU campus:" https://mybellinghamnow.com/news/297792-pro-palestine-encampment-forms-on-wwu-campus/

* "Business titans privately urged NYC mayor to use police on Columbia protesters, chats show:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/05/16/business-leaders-chat-group-eric-adams-columbia-protesters/

* "Pro-Palestinian Student Protesters Celebrated for ‘Moral Clarity’ at ‘The People’s Graduation’:" https://time.com/6979149/pro-palestinian-student-protesters-the-peoples-graduation/

* "50 powerful photos from ACT UP's pro-Palestine rally at the GLAAD Media awards:" https://www.advocate.com/news/act-up-glaad-media-protest

******

---

* "The changing face of protest:" https://restofworld.org/2024/facial-recognition-government-protest-surveillance/#/an-end-to-privacy

* "A growing number of Americans end up in Russian jails. The prospects for their release are unclear:" https://apnews.com/article/russia-prisoners-swap-gershkovich-whelan-putin-2a53c30a7ee686ee85de412ee833d154

* "Slovak PM Fico's attacker may not have acted alone, says minister:" https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/worst-fears-slovak-pms-health-are-over-says-deputy-prime-minister-2024-05-19/

* "German far-right leader intentionally used banned Nazi slogan, court rules:" https://www.politico.eu/article/german-far-right-leader-found-guilty-of-using-banned-nazi-slogan-bjorn-hocke-afd-alternative-for-germany-thuringia/

* "Venezuela’s barred opposition candidate is now the fiery surrogate of her lesser-known replacement:" https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-presidential-election-maduro-opposition-machado-edmundo-aecb49c26aba7dd7c98c0139282c8ade

* "Search and rescue efforts underway as helicopter carrying Iran's President Raisi suffers 'crash landing':" https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/helicopter-carrying-irans-president-suffers-hard-landing-state-tv-says-rcna152961

* "Vatican Museums staff challenge the pope with a legal bid for better terms and treatment:" https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/ap-top-news/2024/05/13/vatican-museums-staff-challenge-the-pope-with-a-legal-bid-for-better-terms-and-treatment

* I have serious concerns. "Seeking Access to Congo’s Metals, White House Aims to Ease Sanctions: A deal to allow the Israeli billionaire Dan Gertler to cash out his mining positions in the Democratic Republic of Congo has enraged human rights activists and some government officials.:" https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/16/us/politics/congo-cobalt-us-sanctions.html

* "Biden announces new tariffs on imports of Chinese goods, including electric vehicles:" https://www.npr.org/2024/05/14/1250987721/biden-china-tariffs-electric-vehicles

* "US issues warning about possible terror attacks at LGBTQ+ Pride events worldwide:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/05/20/pride-month-warning-us-state-department/

* "US to send additional $2 billion in Ukraine aid, Blinken says:" https://abcnews.go.com/US/us-send-additional-2-billion-ukraine-aid-blinken/story?id=108534198

* "US greenlights potential weapons sale to Israel:" https://www.politico.com/news/2024/05/14/us-greenlights-potential-weapons-sale-israel-00158045

* "Justice Department formally moves to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug in historic shift:" https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-rescheduling-drug-policy-biden-15b43441670757b0c2bfa36731e47d07

* "Over 20 Republican-led states are challenging Biden admin's LGBTQ-inclusive Title IX rule:" https://www.advocate.com/news/title-ix-lgbtq-lawsuits

* "Supreme Court orders Louisiana to use congressional map with additional Black district in 2024 vote:" https://apnews.com/article/louisiana-supreme-court-congressional-redistricting-black-representation-201c1fa9e494ad0d88e4d9ed8328eae0

* "A 'Stop The Steal' Symbol Was Displayed At Alito's House In 2021:" https://www.huffpost.com/entry/supreme-court-samuel-alito-stop-the-steal-flag_n_6646913ae4b0dd63cd2bd6ae

* "Alito offers strikingly petty excuse for upside-down flag, affirms pro-Trump bias:" https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/alito-offers-strikingly-petty-excuse-for-upside-down-flag-affirms-pro-trump-bias-211175493923

* "Justice Alito's upside-down flag sparks another SCOTUS ethics scandal:" https://www.msnbc.com/jonathan-capehart/watch/justice-alito-s-upside-down-flag-sparks-another-scotus-ethics-scandal-211197509527

* "Rep. Raskin: “the highest court in the land has the lowest ethical standards.”:" https://www.msnbc.com/ayman-mohyeldin/watch/rep-raskin-the-highest-court-in-the-land-has-the-lowest-ethical-standards-211224645780

* "Elizabeth Warren on the Biden admin's big win for airline passengers:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/elizabeth-warren-on-the-biden-admin-s-big-win-for-airline-passengers-211026501692

* "White House to Republicans: You’re not getting audio of Biden’s interview with Hur:" https://www.politico.com/news/2024/05/16/biden-moves-to-block-house-from-getting-his-classified-docs-interview-tapes-00158323

* "House Democrats launch probe of Trump’s dinner with oil executives:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2024/05/14/trump-oil-executives-investigation-democrats/

* "Marjorie Taylor Greene Has Been Obsessed With AOC for Years:" https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/aoc-marjorie-taylor-greene-feud-history-1235023214/

* "School leaders push back on House GOP claims of inaction over antisemitism:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2024/05/08/antisemitism-house-hearing-k-12-schools/

* "Republicans follow through on their odd home appliance fixation:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/republicans-follow-odd-home-appliance-fixation-rcna151249

* Stop the government censoring queer and other minority voices off the Internet in the US : https://www.stopkosa.com/

* Have something you want to tell your Congress Critters? If you can't safely contact them 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://resist.bot/
To get your Critters' numbers to call direct: https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member

* The Indivisible Guide: "A Practical Guide to defeating MAGA:" https://indivisible.org/sites/default/files/2023-01/20220104_Indivisible_%20A%20Practical%20Guide%20to%20Defeating%20MAGA.pdf

* "Meet RAGA—One of the Scariest GOP Groups You’ve Never Heard Of:" https://www.thenation.com/article/society/republican-attorney-general-raga/

* "In Arizona, election workers trained with deepfakes to prepare for 2024:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/05/08/arizona-election-workers-trained-with-deepfakes-prepare-2024/

* "'He is dangerous': Rep. Balint on the Trumpian threat Speaker Johnson poses to democracy:" https://www.msnbc.com/jonathan-capehart/watch/-he-is-dangerous-rep-balint-on-the-trumpian-threat-speaker-johnson-poses-to-democracy-211225157642

* "MAGA Candidate Draws Outrage After Bizarre “Weak and Gay” Video:" https://newrepublic.com/post/181592/gop-candidate-weak-gay-video

* "‘Outside money in Oregon swing district prompts claims of Republican meddling:" https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2024/05/17/outside-money-in-oregon-swing-district-prompts-claims-of-republican-meddling/

* "OUTSIDE GROUPS SPENT $285,000 BACKING JAMAAL BOWMAN. AIPAC ALONE JUST DROPPED NEARLY $2 MILLION TO ATTACK HIM.:" https://theintercept.com/2024/05/16/aipac-jamaal-bowman-attack-ads-george-latimer/

* "Rep. Jamaal Bowman on being AIPAC’s top target:" https://www.msnbc.com/ayman-mohyeldin/watch/rep-jamaal-bowman-on-being-aipac-s-top-target-211195973612

* Primaries are Ongoing:
Important! Remember to vote in all primaries, not just presidential!!!

NOTE: There is a call for people to vote "uncommitted" in the Democratic primary as a protest against Biden's Israel policy. The time to pressure Biden with your vote is now, not in November. The pressure from all the different types of protests do seem to be working, if far slower than we'd like.

NOTE 2: There is a similar protest against Trump where people vote for a candidate who isn't running. Check your state to see who people are promoting.

NOTE 3: Important non-Presidential Primaries are also ongoing! Vote the whole ballot!

Georgia, Kentucky, Oregon, Idaho: 5/21/24 (House Primaries as well! Important!!!)

Idaho (Democrat): 5/23/24

Texas (Run Off Election): 5/28/24

Iowa (House Primary), District of Columbia (Democrats), Montana (General Primary, Important!), New Jersey (General Primary, Important), New Mexico (General Primary, Important!), South Dakota: 6/4/24


Know your state's schedule and where to vote. Make sure you and your friends are registered. If you are voting in person, plan how to get there.

If you live in an open primary state consider voting strategically. Otherwise, vote your heart in the primary. Remember how all those votes for Sanders and Warren pushed Biden and the party platform further left?

Remember to vote in all the races, not just the top of the ticket even if it's in a separate primary (as it is in my state). Who runs congress, your state, and your local government really matters. In some states this is a separate primary. Check the rules for your state.

Never, ever sleep on a chance to vote.

It is always better to vote for someone who will listen to us than to let someone who is actively trying to kill us.

* "Biden and Trump agree to debates. And then debate about more debates.:" https://www.politico.com/news/2024/05/15/biden-proposes-2-debates-with-trump-ditching-bipartisan-commission-00158082

* "Why Trump's 2020 debates should make him think twice about meeting Biden again in 2024:" https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/why-trump-s-2020-debates-should-make-him-think-twice-about-meeting-biden-again-in-2024-211038789777

* "How Can This Country Possibly Be Electing Trump Again?:" https://newrepublic.com/article/181287/can-america-possibly-elect-trump-again

* "Every Awful Thing Trump Has Promised to Do in a Second Term:" https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/trump-second-term-plans-wildest-proposals-1234947327/

* "Trump Says He’d Deport ‘Anti-American’ Protesters in Bizarre Rally Speech:" https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/donald-trump-deport-protesters-hannibal-lecter-new-jersey-rally-1235019174/

* "Trump's election denialism is a 'dagger at the heart of American democracy':" https://www.msnbc.com/jonathan-capehart/watch/trump-s-election-denialism-is-a-dagger-at-the-heart-of-american-democracy-210771525632

* "Trump pledges to 'roll back' Biden gun rules, fire ATF chief at NRA rally:" https://www.reuters.com/world/us/donald-trump-fire-up-supporters-nras-annual-us-gathering-2024-05-18/

* "Why Donald Trump ended up praising Hollywood’s most famous cannibal:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/05/13/trump-hannibal-lecter-immigration/

* "Biden and Trump split screen: "Unhinged" and "Hannibal Lecter":" https://www.axios.com/2024/05/12/biden-trump-rallies-fundraiser-hannibal-lecter

* "NC Senate votes to ban people from wearing masks in public for health reasons:" https://www.wral.com/amp/21433199/

* "South Carolina has passed a gender-affirming care ban. Here's what families can do:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/south-carolina-gender-affirming-care-resources

* "Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs a bill that strikes climate change from state law:" https://www.npr.org/2024/05/16/1251769080/florida-desantis-climate-change-law

* "A Virginia county board votes to restore Confederates' names to schools:" https://www.npr.org/2024/05/10/1250446827/virginia-confederate-school-names-restored

* "Louisiana bill would place abortion pills on same list as opiates:" https://www.axios.com/2024/05/13/abortion-pills-controlled-substance-louisiana-amendment

* Republicans continue to champion CSA as part of their core anti-bodily autonomy agenda. "Why Are Some Republican Lawmakers Hellbent on Preserving Child Marriage?:" https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/republican-lawmakers-child-marriage-abortion-1235018777/

* "Rudy Giuliani still hasn’t been served his Arizona indictment:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/05/14/rudy-giuliani-arizona-charges/

* "DOJ requests judge order Steve Bannon to begin prison sentence:" https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/doj-requests-judge-order-steve-bannon-begin-prison/story?id=110209704

* "US Senator Robert Menendez goes on trial for corruption, no jurors chosen:" https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/senator-bob-menendez-trial-jury/story?id=110269043

* "Witness at Sen. Bob Menendez's bribery trial says meat-export monopoly made costs soar:" https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/witness-sen-bob-menendezs-bribery-trial-meat-export-110349002

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* I can't cover Trump legal stuff in the detail I normally would. Physio ramped up and my arm isn't up to much right now. I am just to tired and in too much pain for blow by blows. Apologies.

* "IRS Audit of Trump Could Cost Former President More Than $100 Million:" https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-irs-audit-chicago-hotel-taxes

* "Trump Campaign Hid Settlements With Women, New Complaint Says:" https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-campaign-hid-settlements-with-women-new-complaint-says

* "'Utterly humiliating': Trump sycophants in matching suits audition for Trump outside trial:" https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/-utterly-humiliating-trump-sycophants-in-matching-suits-audition-for-trump-outside-trial-210954309549

* "Trump sycophants parroting attacks on justice system risk further provoking MAGA extremists:" https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/trump-sycophants-parroting-attacks-on-justice-system-risk-further-provoking-maga-extremists-211040325835

* "Maddow slams 'corrosive' rhetoric as spectacle of Trump's Republican cheering squad grows:" https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/maddow-slams-corrosive-rhetoric-as-spectacle-of-trump-s-republican-cheering-squad-grows-211113541653

* "GOP rep invokes Proud Boys at Trump trial: 'Standing back and standing by':" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/gop-rep-invokes-proud-boys-at-trump-trial-standing-back-and-standing-by-211101765671

* "‘Bizarre’: Lauren Boebert says Trump ‘looks pretty while he sleeps’ in court:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/-bizarre-lauren-boebert-says-trump-looks-pretty-while-he-sleeps-in-court-211169349830

* "Michael Cohen says Trump was concerned about election when he sought to bury Stormy Daniels' story:" https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/05/13/trump-hush-money-criminal-trial/a-critical-line-of-testimony-00157625

* "Stunning lack of effort: Trump defense tepid in attack on Cohen's damning testimony:" https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/stunning-lack-of-effort-trump-defense-tepid-in-attack-on-cohen-s-damning-testimony-210952261967

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* "Pennsylvania state trooper who violently arrested Black transgender official on video is fired:" https://www.advocate.com/news/pa-state-trooper-fired-arresting-trans-official

* "‘Horrible’ and ‘beyond F'd up’: Texas Democratic lawmakers outraged by Abbott pardon of Daniel Perry:" https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/05/17/congress/texas-democrats-house-react-daniel-perry-pardon-abbott-protest-garrett-foster-00158651

* "Starting over: Women emerging from prison face formidable challenges to resuming their lives:" https://apnews.com/article/women-prisoners-reentry-challenges-program-shortage-d56afe6283c25e981d37d6e925d90ffd

* "Vivek Ramaswamy Praises Ann Coulter for Saying He’s Too ‘Indian’ to Vote For:" https://www.thedailybeast.com/ann-coulter-tells-ramaswamy-she-wouldnt-vote-for-him-because-youre-an-indian

* "Two Black cadets and the struggle for diversity at an elite US military institution:" https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-race-academy/

* "Segregation Academies Still Operate Across the South. One Town Grapples With Its Divided Schools.:" https://www.propublica.org/article/camden-alabama-segregated-schools-brown-v-board

* "This Map Lets You See How School Segregation Has Changed in Your Hometown:" https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/school-segregation-interactive-map-180984360/

* "A GOP school board member tried to ban a student's art for being 'offensive' to Christians:" https://www.advocate.com/news/virginia-augusta-school-board-gay-art
szx

* CW: CSA. "Attorney General Ferguson announces investigation into Catholic Church’s handling of child sex abuse allegations:" https://www.atg.wa.gov/news/news-releases/attorney-general-ferguson-announces-investigation-catholic-church-s-handling

* "Even more salacious details emerge about the Zieglers' sex lives as they seek evidence be suppressed:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/zieglers-sex-lives-police-evidence

* "Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker goes on transphobic, sexist rant during graduation speech:" https://www.advocate.com/sports/harrison-butker-misogynistic-transphobia

* "Gay couple sues NYC over 'discriminatory' denial of IVF benefits:" https://www.advocate.com/gay-couple-ivf-benefits-lawsuit

* "Third lesbian killed after boardinghouse arson attack in Argentina:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/third-lesbian-dies-fire-argentina

* Hospital wait times can kill. Denial of care can kill. "Trans teen ‘attempts self-mastectomy’ while waiting for surgery in ‘act of desperation’:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/05/17/trans-teen-mastectomy-new-zealand/

* "Unsurprisingly, LGBTQ+ staff more likely to leave the NHS after Tory ‘gender ideology’ crackdown:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/05/18/lgbtq-nhs-workers/

* "Do not ban transgender people from receiving care in mainstream hospital wards:" https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/661601

* "Las Vegas man shot at his gay neighbors while screaming homophobic slurs, police say:" https://www.advocate.com/las-vegas-hate-crime-bb-gun

* "Bay Area man convicted for attacking, robbing, abandoning Grindr hookup:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/grindr-hookup-robbery-sf

* "female loneliness and the catch-up friendship crisis:"

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* "The CDC Is Squandering the Breakthrough RSV Vaccine:" https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2024/03/cdc-rsv-vaccine-babies-eligible/677907/

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* "Largest Year–Over-Year Gain in Keeling Curve Set in March:" https://keelingcurve.ucsd.edu/2024/05/08/largest-year-over-year-gain-in-keeling-curve-set-in-march/

* "A mountainous country loses its last glacier:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/05/15/venezuela-corona-glacier-humboldt/

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* "I Was Scammed By Taylor Swift’s Boyfriend:"

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* "Orcas have sunk 3 boats in Europe and appear to be teaching others to do the same. But why?:" https://www.livescience.com/animals/orcas/orcas-have-sunk-3-boats-in-europe-and-appear-to-be-teaching-others-to-do-the-same-but-why

* "The Actual History of Pink for Girls and Blue for Boys:"

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* "Trans women discussed trans rights on the BBC over 50 years ago—here’s what it looked like:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/05/06/trans-history-week/

* "California political activist couple Peggy Moore and Hope Wood killed in car crash:" https://www.advocate.com/news/peggy-moore-hope-wood-killed

* "Black trans woman Kita Bee killed in hit-and-run in Kansas City:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/transgender-woman-killed-kita-bee

* 5/13/24: I meant to write a lot last week, but the weather has been very uneven and physio is moving into the two days to recover phase. By the time I was up to writing, I felt I really just needed to push the aggregate out.

Friday freaked me out a little. I was exhausted and in pain and not at my best. Now that I know the asshole agency app makes them fill out a form about me every time they come and that one of them snitched on me last month, leading to medical social worker trying to Hard sell a home visit I don't want or need, I am wary about every interaction with this one, even though it definitely wasn't her. Is the suggestion about organizing the tea station, something no one has been up to all winter and is on our when we have time list, just a suggestion or the beginning of the Asshole Agency/social services deciding they need to steal my autonomy because I'm disabled? Probably not, but it worries me she was here on a bad pain day in case she types something into the app they DO flag.

Fuck. We can't manage without the help as my primary purpose until Autumn is basically just physio and it eats most of my time, energy, and pain resistance.

Sunday, I had a visitor until 3ish in the morning, which is fine. I'm nocturnal.

Except today is bloodwork day, and they didn't say it was fasting, but this batch usually is. I was having some juice and a snack when I looked at the time. Fuck!

So I'll be staying up to do blood draw waaay later than expected. I am exhausted and hungry and I can't take the morning meds dose, including half the days arthritis pill until I get back because arthritis pill needs food.

And I have an online social engagement in the evening as I generally do on Monday and Tuesday.

On the upside, we went grocery shopping Sunday evening before dinner, and I now have pastry rising in the kitchen so I can have a special treat later.

Miles to go before I sleep. Sigh.

* 5/16/24: Wednesday, we went out to the prettiest local lake for a picnic dinner. We sat amoung the trees and looked out at the water. Later, We went down to the bay to watch sunset over water, seagulls circling and diving in front of salmon belly sky.

It is so beautiful here, still.

It is strangely cold, the coldest it's been in May since I moved up here. The plants will perk up and then the strange cold returns. The once reliable range of weather shattered a decade ago and each Spring brings surprises. I suspect we'll lose half the starts in the end. The marigolds are my fault. I accidentally weeded them.

The mint is finally bouncing back at least and I still have hope for the tomatoes. They are full grown and tomatoes respond well to a touch of mortality.

I got a new exercise and an upgrade to my home physio Wednesday. I was so exhausted I went to bed early and didn't even try any that evening, which is fine. I'm allowed to take physio evenings off. Thursday I managed ten of the upgraded exercise and did two other sets of regular. I only managed three of the new exercise before my shoulder hard vetoed. Sigh. I suspect the cold isn't helping.

The current goal is to rebuild enough strength for me to independently lift my arm above my shoulder and hold it for a five count.

* Looks like state election polling season has started. Long time readers will know I get polled a lot, being in possession of a land line, and I generally answer them unless there is a pressing need not to, because I'm a bit of a connoisseur.

I just (Thursday) got extensively polled on the Attorney general race in my state, which is unusual. They occasionally get folded into a governor or state legislature poll, but dedicated attorney general polls are rare. It started with the usual baseline questions and there were the usual demographic questions at the end, but 3/4 of the poll was attorney general stuff. It came off as legit as apposed to a push poll and was very issue oriented. I suspect one of the democratic candidate campaigns was funding it and I suspect they are working out ad strategies.

Usually, I'm more interested in biases and poll design, but this one had so much issues based stuff it left me legitimately weighing who I should vote for this summer. We're early enough in I haven't done the research yet. It's clear I'll need to do more than average. Of the people in the polls, it was the Republican I knew best and instantly dismissed. (On the Republican scale of conservative to nightmare, he's on the more reasonable end but there is no universe were I vote "back the blue.") One of the Democrats I've never heard of and the other I had a vaguely positive opinion, but neither did I know well. Both have some negatives but also really strong positives, hence the need to dig properly to see how much is real, how much is puff, and if there is anything disqualifying. Exciting!

* 5/17/24: So Thursday I was exhausted and in pain so I went to bed early. Alas, very little actual sleep was involved for reasons beyond my control. Livia got lots of pettins out of it at least, as one of her skills is responding to people waking me up my waiting for me to come back from the bathroom and climbing on while the emperor is elsewhere. This was good and important as Tavy's guarding me again, likely due to the obvious physical distress I've been in the last week and a half. When he gets anxious it's everyone's problem. Between Millennial outdoors adventure and the Emperor being the emperor she didn't get any really long bed pets Wednesday.

I had a very early telemedicine thing Friday morning. I had the cleaner scheduled for 10. Goth Millennial wanted to come over and work on some stuff of their own, which is a thing some of them do sometimes. I said sure, as I'd definitely be up all morning. Telemed was fine. Apparently one of my older vaccines is no longer good, so I need go get part one, preferably next week. It was also fast, so I offered to collect Goth Millennial. The Cleaner had a family emergency, which I believe, given things she's said about her circumstances. so I ordered an extra Tuesday because there is a lot needing doing and I barely used any hours the first three months of the year so there is plenty.

My original plan involved going back to bed noonish, but there were a bunch of phone calls and emergency errands and such so i accomplished very little of the things I had on my original agenda for today. Goth Millennial ended up doing some house and garden things as well as the stuff on their agenda, and i couldn't really do any uninterrupted thing until mid afternoon.

By which point my successfully completing my daily physio homework had become a serious liability to everything else because I felt like I was being attacked with knives. In physio's defense Tavy also managed to pin me in a stress position twice, including during lung time this evening, so some of it is Anxious Cat. By dinner time I gave up and took my emergency meds. no noticeable improvement occurred. Indeed as of 9:45PM it is escalating. O.o Which means I'm going to have to employ All the Techniques and home I can chip enough away to sleep.

So I'm trying not to scream and or cry. Still haven't finished the original three to four hours of stuff I was supposed to do today, though I have hopes of Before Midnight local time, and Friday morning aggregate is late again. Tomorrow maybe? Because no way can I push this out tonight.

* Techie Millennial came to Sunday dinner for the first time in ages. I missed them.

I continue to struggle with physio, exhaustion, and my shoulder screaming at me. Sigh.

* "Opioid Settlements: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO):"

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* "Jon Stewart Gives Sen. Robert Menendez a Corruption Lesson | The Daily Show:"

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* "The History of Museums: Crash Course Art History #3:"

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* "Gender Census:" https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/GenderCensus2024

* "Summer of Trump Cold Open - SNL:"

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* "Fast Fashion Ad - SNL:"

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* "Would Jeeves and Wooster survive Castle Dracula?:" https://www.tumblr.com/brigdh/750210068089389056?source=share

* "Hot Vampire Hunters in Your Area!:" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-1-hot-vampire-hunters-in-your-area/id1679833472?i=1000606859900

* "Jane Austen's Persuasion, Part II:" https://www.thechatner.com/p/jane-austens-persuasion-part-ii?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=5&post_id=144622588&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=ykw2&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

* "Sunday Sweets' Crowning Achievement:" https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/sunday-sweets-crowning-achievement-2024

*****
* 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.

* "Gender Census:" https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/GenderCensus2024

* "Do not ban transgender people from receiving care in mainstream hospital wards:" https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/661601

* "Black Alliance for Peace’s Atlanta Citywide Alliance:" https://linktr.ee/bapatlanta

* Map of Cop Cities planned or being built: https://isyourlifebetter.net/cop-cities-usa/

* "if you are struggling with choosing which fundraisers to support, please consider donating to the following places providing medical aid, food, and other supplies to palestine at this time:" https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/750500230956564480?source=share

* Links for various Palestinian Aid Organizations: https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/750151174318112768?source=share

* "World Central Kitchen:" https://wck.org/

* "Palestine Children’s Relief Fund:" https://pcrf1.app.neoncrm.com/forms/gaza-recovery

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* I'm doing better, but I still tire easily and the physio is already getting ugly. This means I'm going to run out of things like energy and pain resistance without much warning. Posting may vary/

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* "Israel: ‘Investigate what?’:" https://www.politico.com/newsletters/national-security-daily/2024/04/26/israel-investigate-what-00154651#:~:text=Israel's%20military%20says%20the%20Biden,they%20already%20looked%20into%20it.

* "NBC News investigation reveals Israel strikes on Gaza areas it said were safe:" https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/palestinians-killed-israeli-strikes-safe-zones-exclusive-nbc-report-rcna148008

* "Rep. Katie Porter says the State Dept. is sitting on memos of human rights violations by Israel:" https://www.msnbc.com/ayman-mohyeldin/watch/rep-katie-porter-says-the-state-dept-is-sitting-on-memos-of-human-rights-violations-by-israel-209864261812

* Food aid to Gaza for Ramadan: https://support.anera.org/a/ramadan-2024

* "Palestine Children’s Relief Fund:" https://pcrf1.app.neoncrm.com/forms/gaza-recovery

* Verified charities to help Palestinians: https://cleolinda.tumblr.com/post/737312194805612544

* Fundraisers for Gaza: https://www.tumblr.com/el-shab-hussein/742344297699999744/hi-if-its-okay-i-saw-you-were-boosting?source=share

******
* "Israel fears ICC will issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and other top officials:" https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/israel-fears-icc-issue-arrest-warrants-netanyahu-gaza-war-hamas-rcna149739

* Ya think? "Exclusive: Some US officials say in internal memo Israel may be violating international law in Gaza:" https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/some-us-officials-say-internal-memo-israel-may-be-violating-international-law-2024-04-27/

* "US implicates 5 Israeli units in rights violations before Gaza war, no restrictions on assistance:" https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-found-five-israeli-military-units-committed-gross-human-rights-violations-2024-04-29/

* "U.S. pushes for Gaza cease-fire, seeing narrow window for a deal before Israel launches Rafah assault:" https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/israel-hamas-war-gaza-cease-fire-hostage-deal-antony-blinken-saudi-rcna149747

* "Protests over Israel-Hamas war continue at college campuses across the U.S. as graduation dates approach:" https://www.cbsnews.com/news/college-campus-protests-gaza-israel/

* "Police arrest dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University:"

* "'Tragic': Columbia community laments involvement of police in campus protests:" https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/-tragic-columbia-community-laments-involvement-of-police-in-campus-protests-210016837600

* "Violence erupts at UCLA as protests over Israel's war in Gaza escalate across the U.S.:" https://www.npr.org/2024/05/01/1248433624/protests-campus-ucla-universities-israel-gaza-palestinians

* "Four UCLA student journalists attacked by pro-Israel counterprotesters on campus:" https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-05-01/four-student-journalists-attacked-by-counterprotesters-at-ucla

* "Op-ed: Faculty stands with pro-Palestine protesters, demands full amnesty for all arrested:" https://dailybruin.com/2024/05/02/op-ed-faculty-stands-with-pro-palestine-protesters-demands-full-amnesty-for-all-arrested

* "79 arrested amid second crackdown on UT-Austin campus:" https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/30/ut-austin-protest-arrests/

* "Tensions Rise at U.N.C. Chapel Hill After Dozens of Pro-Palestinian Demonstrators Are Detained:" https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/30/nyregion/unc-chapel-hill-protests.html

* "College Crackdown Shines Spotlight on Violent Cops — Yet Again:" https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/gaza-protests-colleges-violent-cops-1235012276/

* It's almost as if negotiation were more effective than force at solving conflict, but tell that to Columbia's Admin. "At Brown University, protesters and administrators reach deal to end encampment:" https://www.npr.org/2024/05/01/1248403491/at-brown-university-protesters-and-administrators-reach-deal-to-end-encampment

* "Protests at Wesleyan University can continue under one condition:" https://www.wfsb.com/2024/05/01/peaceful-protest-continues-wesleyan-university/

* "Biden says he supports the right to protest but denounces 'chaos' and hate speech:" https://www.npr.org/2024/05/02/1248669695/biden-remarks-white-house-live

* "Republican Senators Demand Biden Use National Guard to Suppress Columbia Protests:" https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/tom-cotton-josh-hawley-biden-national-guard-columbia-1235008553/

* "Opinion: The student-led protests aren’t perfect. That doesn’t mean they’re not right.:" https://www.sltrib.com/opinion/commentary/2024/04/27/opinion-student-led-protests-arent/

* "Kent State Victim’s Sister Condemns Militarized Response To Pro-Palestinian College Protests:" https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kent-state-sister-militarized-police-college-protests-israel-gaza_n_662aa18de4b09d8df9d5e1b0

* "Toxic U.S. political themes distort view of campus Gaza protests:" https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/toxic-u-s-political-themes-distort-view-of-campus-gaza-protests-210099781912

* "Chris Hayes: Why campus protests are 'the easier debate':" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/chris-hayes-why-campus-protests-are-the-easier-debate-210090565985

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* "Russia breached global chemical weapons ban in Ukraine, U.S. says as it sanctions Chinese companies over war:" https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/russia-chemical-weapons-ban-ukraine-sanctions-china-rcna150342

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* "'Europe could die': Macron urges stronger defenses, economic reforms:" https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/macron-aims-cement-french-influence-eu-lift-party-fortunes-with-landmark-speech-2024-04-25/

* "Once a fringe Indian ideology, Hindu nationalism is now mainstream, thanks to Modi’s decade in power:" https://apnews.com/article/india-election-narendra-modi-hindu-nationalism-rss-79c30c8ae750a9c037d86b9e2c1b640c

* "To the Sound of Gunshots, Haiti Installs a New Ruling Council:" https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/25/world/americas/haiti-council-gangs-henry.html

* "Meet the members of a transitional council tasked with choosing new leaders for beleaguered Haiti:" https://apnews.com/article/haiti-transitional-council-members-cfc792b231cd245fa704e4bcc86beb81

* "UK minister claims Rwanda is safe for gay migrants – these queer organisations disagree:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/04/24/rwanda-lgbt-mirgrants-bill/

* "UK's Labour claim big early win over PM Sunak's Conservatives:" https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/labour-claim-early-win-uk-vote-closely-watched-results-trickle-2024-05-03/

* "Rishi Sunak’s future hangs in the balance as Tories suffer worst local election losses in 30 years:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/05/03/local-elections-2024-labour-rishi-sunak-conservatives/

* "Boris Johnson turned away from voting due to his own ID law amid catastrophic Conservative results:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/05/03/boris-johnson-rejected-from-voting/

* "Humza Yousaf quits as Scotland’s First Minister in tearful address: ‘I will not trade in my values’:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/04/29/humza-yousaf-resigns/

* "Who will replace Humza Yousaf as First Minister and what does it mean for LGBTQ+ rights in Scotland?:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/04/29/kate-forbes-humza-yousaf-scotland-snp-lgbtq/

* "Canada Agrees 200 Islands Belong to the Indigenous Haida Nation:" https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/canada-agrees-200-islands-belong-to-the-indigenous-haida-nation/

* "Ahead of Paris Olympics, police oversee evictions, leading to charges of 'social cleansing':" https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2024/04/17/2024-olympics-social-cleansing-paris/73353671007/

* "New Biden administration Title IX rule protects transgender and nonbinary students’ bathroom and pronoun use at school:" https://www.advocate.com/news/title-ix-rule-transgender-students

* "How did the Biden administration just make health care fairer for LGBTQ+ people?:" https://www.advocate.com/news/lgbtq-healthcare-biden-restores-protections

* "Biden Just Saved the 40-Hour Work Week:" https://newrepublic.com/article/180966/biden-overtime-rule-middle-class

* "U.S. bans noncompete agreements for nearly all jobs:" https://www.npr.org/2024/04/23/1246655366/ftc-bans-noncompete-agreements-lina-khan

* "Net neutrality restored as FCC votes to regulate internet providers:" https://apnews.com/article/net-neutrality-fcc-broadband-regulation-cc8421bc4f11a3e0f6ffc22c358fbfd0

* "Coal and new gas power plants will have to meet climate pollution targets:" https://www.npr.org/2024/04/25/1236609039/epa-power-plant-climate

* "Biden forgives more than $6 billion in loans for 317,000 Art Institutes students:" https://www.npr.org/2024/05/01/1248473475/art-institutes-student-loan-forgiveness-debt-relief

* "Biden administration poised to weaken weed restrictions, a seismic shift from decades of harsh policies:" https://www.politico.com/news/2024/04/30/biden-weed-restriction-policies-00133123

* "US Supreme Court split over Idaho's strict abortion ban in medical emergencies:" https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-supreme-court-weighs-idahos-strict-abortion-ban-medical-emergencies-2024-04-24/

* "I’m an E.R. doc. Idaho’s argument to SCOTUS reveals an ignorance of what I do.:" https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/supreme-court-idaho-abortion-ban-rcna148890

* "Idaho abortion case in front of SCOTUS is 'quite shocking':" https://www.msnbc.com/jonathan-capehart/watch/-idaho-abortion-case-in-front-of-scotus-is-quite-shocking-209833541974

* "The Trumpification of the Supreme Court:" https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/04/trump-presidential-inmunity-supreme-court/678193/

* "This Whole King Trump Thing Is Getting Awfully Literal:" https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/26/opinion/trump-immunity-supreme-court.html

* "Trump’s 'Absolute' Immunity Case & Campus Protests Mark Inflection Point For U.S. Constitution:" https://www.msnbc.com/ayman-mohyeldin/watch/trump-s-absolute-immunity-case-campus-protests-mark-inflection-point-for-u-s-constitution-209834053671

* "Jack Smith’s odds of putting Trump on trial this year are sinking:" https://www.politico.com/news/2024/04/25/trump-supreme-court-immunity-arguments-00154324

* "Supreme Court rejects Peter Navarro's latest bid for release from prison during appeal:" https://www.cbsnews.com/news/supreme-court-peter-navarro-rejects-prison-release-appeal/

* "Fed holds interest rates steady at highest level since 2001:" https://abcnews.go.com/Business/fed-expected-hold-interests-rates-steady-highest-level/story?id=109781151

* "We Are In A Housing Trap. Can We Escape?:"

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* "How Marjorie Taylor Greene Raises Money by Attacking Other Republicans:" https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/how-marjorie-taylor-greene-raises-money-by-attacking-other-republicans

* "Majorie Taylor Greene is planning a vote next week to oust Speaker Johnson:" https://www.npr.org/2024/05/01/1248433401/marjorie-taylor-greene-motion-to-vacate-house-speaker-mike-johnson

* "House passes antisemitism bill over complaints from First Amendment advocates:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/05/01/antisemitism-awarness-act-campus-protests/

* "Johnson launches House-wide probes into campus antisemitism:" https://www.politico.com/news/2024/04/30/mike-johnson-campus-antisemitism-00155253

* Stop the government censoring queer and other minority voices off the Internet in the US : https://www.stopkosa.com/

* Have something you want to tell your Congress Critters? If you can't safely contact them 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://resist.bot/
To get your Critters' numbers to call direct: https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member

* The Indivisible Guide: "A Practical Guide to defeating MAGA:" https://indivisible.org/sites/default/files/2023-01/20220104_Indivisible_%20A%20Practical%20Guide%20to%20Defeating%20MAGA.pdf

* Well, fuck. "Court tosses map that created second Black House district in Louisiana:" https://www.politico.com/news/2024/04/30/louisiana-court-black-house-district-00155351

* "Number of Trump Allies Facing Election Interference Charges Keeps Growing:" https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/26/us/politics/trump-election-interference-charges.html

* "Meadows, Giuliani, 11 'fake electors' from 2020 are among those indicted in Arizona:" https://www.npr.org/2024/04/24/1236998675/arizona-fake-elector-charges

* "Arizona defendant Christina Bobb plays key role on RNC election integrity team:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/04/26/christina-bobb-arizona-charges-rnc-election-integrity/

* "Democrats retain upstate New York congressional seat in special election:" https://apnews.com/article/special-election-congress-new-york-kennedy-dickson-e7b6956b577c63109491ccf805f0bc81

* "Meet the transgender minister representing LGBTQ+ rights in Georgia:" https://www.advocate.com/news/georgia-transgender-methodist-minister

* "Gay Pennsylvania Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta wins Democratic primary for auditor general:" https://www.advocate.com/news/malcolm-kenyatta-wins-democratic-primary

* "Assisted living home lawsuit, citations add to controversy over Hovde’s nursing home remarks:" https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2024/04/24/assisted-living-home-lawsuit-citations-add-to-controversy-over-hovdes-nursing-home-remarks/

Want to help Tammy Baldwin beat this guy? https://secure.actblue.com/donate/tammy-baldwin-4

* "Where is Mr. Rogers’ neighborhood?:" https://michiganadvance.com/2024/01/30/where-is-mr-rogers-neighborhood/

* "This G.O.P. Senate Candidate Says He Grew Up on a Family Farm. Not Exactly.:" https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/19/us/politics/dave-mccormick-farm-pennsylvania.html

* "David McCormick is gearing up for a Senate run in Pennsylvania. But he lives in Connecticut:" https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-mccormick-residency-mansion-connecticut-oz-e84500b848f0be7efb9f9b3c495dd066

He's the son of a wealthy college president and currently resides in Connecticut, but claims to have grown up a poor farmer. He's running in Pennsylvania, because that worked so well for Dr. Oz.

* "Montana GOP Senate candidate says he lied to ranger about gunshot wound in 2015:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/04/06/tim-sheehy-montana-senate-gunshot-wound-national-park/

He claims he didn't shoot himself by accident being a dumbass, but rather that he had a super secret war wound no one knew about. *sideeye*

* "GOP Star Recruit Brags About ‘Rural’ Upbringing. He Grew Up 15 Minutes From the City.:" https://www.thedailybeast.com/gop-star-recruit-tim-sheehy-brags-about-rural-upbringing-that-wasnt

* "Kari Lake says 'unfortunately' Arizona isn't enforcing 1864 abortion ban, flipping again:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/kari-lake-says-unfortunately-arizona-isnt-enforcing-1864-abortion-ban-rcna148948

* "Republicans assemble oddly insulting set of 2024 candidates with Senate control on the line:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/republicans-assemble-oddly-insulting-set-of-2024-candidates-with-senate-control-on-the-line-209943621924

* Primaries are ongoing:
Important! Remember to vote in all primaries, not just presidential!!!

NOTE: There is a call for people to vote "uncommitted" in the Democratic primary as a protest against Biden's Israel policy. The time to pressure Biden with your vote is now, not in November. The pressure from all the different types of protests do seem to be working, if far slower than we'd like.

NOTE 2: There is a similar protest against Trump where people vote for a candidate who isn't running. Check your state to see who people are promoting.

NOTE 3: Important non-Presidential Primaries are also ongoing! Vote the whole ballot!

Indiana: 5/7/24 (Governer, Senate, House Primaries as well! Important!!!)

Maryland, Nebraska, West Virginia: 5/14/24 (Senate and House Primaries as well! Important!!!)

Georgia, Kentucky, Oregon, Idaho: 5/21/24 (House Primaries as well! Important!!!)

Idaho (Democrat): 5/23/24

Texas (Run Off Election): 5/28/24


Know your state's schedule and where to vote. Make sure you and your friends are registered. If you are voting in person, plan how to get there.

If you live in an open primary state consider voting strategically. Otherwise, vote your heart in the primary. Remember how all those votes for Sanders and Warren pushed Biden and the party platform further left?

Remember to vote in all the races, not just the top of the ticket even if it's in a separate primary (as it is in my state). Who runs congress, your state, and your local government really matters. In some states this is a separate primary. Check the rules for your state.

Never, ever sleep on a chance to vote.

It is always better to vote for someone who will listen to us than to let someone who is actively trying to kill us.

* "Democrats who investigated Trump say they expect to face arrest, retaliation if he wins presidency:" https://www.cbsnews.com/news/democrats-investigated-trump-expect-arrest-retaliation-if-trump-wins/

* "Opinion: We have a radical democracy. Will Trump voters destroy it?:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/04/24/trump-tyranny-christian-nationalist-democracy/

* "Trump does not rule out building detention camps for mass deportations:" https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-does-not-rule-out-building-detention-camps-mass-deportations-2024-04-30/

* "Trump says he’ll use National Guard to deport migrants, doubling down on anti-immigration rhetoric:" https://apnews.com/article/immigration-trump-deport-migrants-national-guard-bdbbc8e78c66adb66047e331ced6c2d3

* "Trump Refuses to Commit to Accepting 2024 Election Results:" https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/trump-refuses-commit-accepting-2024-election-results-1235013997/

* "Trump says 'it depends' if there will be violence if he loses 2024 election to Biden:" https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-asked-violence-loses-november-election-biden-depends/story?id=109787140

* "The Trump campaign embraces Jan. 6 rioters with money and pardon promises:" https://www.npr.org/2024/01/04/1218672628/the-trump-campaign-embraces-jan-6-rioters-with-money-and-pardon-promises

* "Donald Trump says states should decide on prosecuting women for abortions, has no comment on abortion pill:" https://apnews.com/article/abortion-ban-trump-criminalize-mifepristone-election-7f43c7e9ab192ebe874a1f0b1b7ba60b

* "An oral history of how exactly Trump killed Roe v. Wade:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/an-oral-history-of-how-exactly-trump-killed-roe-v-wade-210089029864

* "Trump paints vivid picture of extremist plans for second term in new interview:" https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/trump-paints-vivid-picture-of-extremist-plans-for-second-term-in-new-interview-210018885583

* "Imperial presidency: Trump lays out plan to enlist military in deporting millions:" https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/imperial-presidency-trump-lays-out-plan-to-enlist-military-in-deporting-millions-210100805862

* "Donald Trump says liberals wanted him to overturn Roe v. Wade: ‘Everybody wanted this to be done!’:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/05/03/donald-trump-roe-v-wade/

* "Undeterred by past Big Lie failures, Trump primes followers for poll confrontations:" https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/undeterred-by-past-big-lie-failures-trump-primes-followers-for-poll-confrontations-210180677642

* "Chaos and division erupt at Washington Republican convention in Spokane:" https://www.opb.org/article/2024/04/20/chaos-erupts-at-washington-gop-convention-in-spokane/#:~:text=On%20Friday%2C%20the%20Washington%20State,to%20the%20party's%20own%20candidates.

* "The WA GOP put it in writing that they’re not into democracy:" https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/the-wa-gop-put-it-in-writing-that-theyre-not-into-democracy/

* "Just when you think the Arizona Republican Party couldn't get any crazier ...:" https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/laurieroberts/2024/04/28/this-just-in-from-the-arizona-republican-party-we-be-crazy/73489433007/

* "Republican Party bears Big Lie's deep scars as Trump dances to avoid accountability:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/republican-party-bears-big-lie-s-deep-scars-as-trump-dances-to-avoid-accountability-209946181819

* "Inslee signed the 'strippers' bill of rights' into law. Here's what will change in Washington:" https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/inslee-signs-stripper-bill-of-rights-into-law-strip-clubs/281-666642a0-0352-4741-9b07-a010f172b407

* "Arizona lawmakers vote to undo near-total abortion ban from 1864, with Gov. Hobbs expected to sign:" https://apnews.com/article/arizona-abortion-1864-ban-repeal-24578e546b69ca087e01034bcaf4aa01

* "Mississippi Republicans fail to pass trans bathroom ban and law defining sex:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/mississippi-anti-lgbtq-bills-fail

* "Iowa governor signs bill that allows for arrest of some migrants:" https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iowa-governor-kim-reynolds-signs-bill-migrants-arrests/

* "Tennessee passes anti-trans bill to ‘intimidate families of transgender youth’:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/04/27/tennessee-anti-trans-bill/

* "Maine signs trans and abortion sanctuary bill into law, despite violent threats:" https://www.advocate.com/news/maine-trans-abortion-sanctuary-bill

* "Here's how Ron DeSantis is still tormenting LGBTQ+ kids after failed presidential campaign:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/ron-desantis-lgbtq-youth

* "Ted Cruz could be liable for taxes on payments from his iHeartMedia podcast, experts say :" https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/ted-cruz-iheart-podcast-taxes-19416633.php

* "Parent arrested as Ryan Walters called 'bully and bigot' at Oklahoma meeting:" https://www.advocate.com/news/ryan-walters-oklahoma-meeting-arrest

* CW: Animal death. "Anti-LGBTQ+ Republican Kristi Noem brags about killing dog and goat in her new book:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/kristi-noem-book-killing-dog

* "Log Cabin Republicans chapter wishes for death of Joe Biden using 'kombucha girl' meme:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/log-cabin-republicans-biden-death

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* "Federal judge rejects Donald Trump's bid for new E. Jean Carroll defamation trial, upholds $83M judgment:" https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/federal-judge-rejects-donald-trumps-bid-new-jean/story?id=109634929

* "Donald Trump ordered to pay $9,000 for violating gag order in criminal hush money trial:" https://www.npr.org/2024/04/30/1244294199/trump-gag-order-hush-money-trial

* "Emails Reveal Top Trump Accountant Had Secret Campaign Role:" https://www.thedailybeast.com/emails-reveal-top-trump-accountant-allen-weisselberg-had-secret-campaign-role

* "Trump trial casts light on dirty side of celebrity tabloids:" https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/trump-trial-casts-light-on-dirty-side-of-celebrity-tabloids-210179141774

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* "Terrorist threat stops Nashville disc golf tournament with transgender player:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/nashville-disc-golf-natalie-ryan

* "Alleged Minneapolis mass shooters charged after killing one at LGBTQ+ punk rock show:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/minneapolis-mass-shooting-punk-show-charges

* "‘Faces of Gun Violence’ exhibit unveiled at inaugural survivors’ summit:" https://www.advocate.com/news/atf-faces-of-gun-violence

* "Tennessee parents beg judge not to release school shooter’s journals publicly:" https://www.advocate.com/news/covenant-school-shooter-journals

* "NYPD officers involved in fatal shooting of gay Black man Kawaski Trawick won't be disciplined:" https://www.advocate.com/news/outrage-kawaski-trawick-no-accountability

* "Cop City's Ivory Tower: Georgia State University is Ground Zero for Militarized Policing:" https://atlpresscollective.com/2024/02/13/cop-citys-ivory-tower-georgia-state-university-is-ground-zero-for-militarized-policing/?amp=1

* "Atlanta, Egypt, and Israel police forces share ‘crowd control’ weapons and military-industrial techniques:" https://www.mainlinezine.com/atlanta-egypt-israel-police-share-crowd-control-weapons/

* "Black Alliance for Peace’s Atlanta Citywide Alliance:" https://linktr.ee/bapatlanta
https://blackallianceforpeace.com/bapstatements/tortuguitaandtyrenichols

* Map of Cop Cities planned or being built: https://isyourlifebetter.net/cop-cities-usa/

* "College students, inmates and a nun: A unique book club meets at one of the nation’s largest jails:" https://apnews.com/article/jail-book-club-nun-activist-death-penalty-6307844935bdea8de812cd67f445745f

* "Catholic college accused of bias by nonbinary former DEI director for refusing to use their pronouns:" https://www.advocate.com/education/providence-college-discrimination-dei-complaint

* "After a Pennsylvania school board canceled a gay actor's talk, the community fought back:" https://www.advocate.com/news/pennsylvania-maulik-pancholy-speech

* CW: Rape "What’s Next for Harvey Weinstein After His New York Rape Conviction Was Overturned?:" https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/harvey-weinstein-new-york-rape-conviction-overturned-1235010866/

* CW: Child Abuse. "I Was 6 When My Father Decided We'd Sail Around The World. I Would Be Trapped On That Boat For Nearly A Decade.:" https://www.huffpost.com/entry/wavewalker-memoir-raised-sailboat-sea_n_6536be56e4b0c85561022b16

* "Transgender health care must be paid for by state insurance, says an appeals court:" https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/04/29/1247896150/transgender-health-insurance-west-virginia-north-carolina-appeals-court

* "More people regret having children than having gender-affirming care, study finds:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/05/01/transition-regret-detransitioners/

* "Florida's 6-week abortion ban is now in effect, curbing access across the South:" https://www.npr.org/2024/05/01/1247990353/florida-6-week-abortion-ban-south

* "Emergency rooms refused to treat pregnant women, leaving one to miscarry in a lobby restroom:" https://apnews.com/article/pregnancy-emergency-care-abortion-supreme-court-roe-9ce6c87c8fc653c840654de1ae5f7a1c

* "Iraq’s criminalisation of same-sex relationships and LGBTQ+ people an ‘attack on human rights’:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/04/29/iraq-human-rights/

* "Drag Race Brazil host shares horrific conversion therapy experience: ‘They applied electric shocks’:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/05/02/grag-queen-conversion-therapy-drag-race-brazil/

* "Debate over gender-neutral language divides Germany:" https://www.politico.eu/article/debate-over-gender-inclusive-neutral-language-divides-germany/

* "Fury as Tories propose that trans women be banned from female NHS wards – and Keir Starmer agrees:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/05/01/tories-keir-starmer-nhs-trans-ban/

* "NHS reportedly set to remove inclusive language from documents in Tory ‘gender ideology’ crackdown:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/04/29/nhs-constitution-victoria-atkins/

* "Man jailed for ‘vicious homophobic attack’ on two men waiting for bus after Black Pride event:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/05/03/brixton-homophobic-attack/

* "Trans activist Charlie Craggs threatened with ‘beating’ minutes after giving an educational talk:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/05/02/charlie-craggs-speech-today/

* "Drag Queen Storytime founder defiant in face of threat to ‘cut him up and throw him into the river’:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/05/02/drag-queen-story-hour-liverpool/

* "United Methodist Church ends 40-year ban on LGBTQ+ clergy:" https://www.advocate.com/news/united-methodist-church-lgbtq-clergy

* "Over 90% of trans youth live in states pushing anti-trans legislation: report:" https://www.advocate.com/news/transgender-youth-state-laws

* CW: Suicide. "Anti-LGBTQ+ laws lead to 'public health crisis' with higher suicide rates among queer youth:" https://www.advocate.com/news/anti-lgbtq-laws-suicide-youth

* "Anti-Trans Legislative Risk Assessment Map: May 2024 Update:" https://www.advocate.com/anti-trans-legislation-risk-map

* "Arkansas sued over new restrictions on driver's license gender markers:" https://www.advocate.com/law/arkansas-drivers-license-gender

* "Community mourns Las Vegas trans woman stabbed ‘in broad daylight’: ‘She was something special’:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/05/03/sasha-williams-death/

* "Trans woman Andrea Doria Dos Passos beaten to death in Miami Beach; arrest made:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/transgender-woman-killed-miami-beach

* "Serial killer of gay men in New Orleans released after 46 years in prison:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/louisiana-killer-gay-men-paroled

* "Teen girls who protested against trans athlete plan to sue after being ‘barred from future events’:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/05/02/trans-athlete-school-board-lawsuit-becky-pepper-jackson/

* "A visual history of lesbian activism from around the world: 58 images of dyke marches:" https://www.advocate.com/lesbian/lesbian-activismfrom-around-the-world

* "‘Only 15 people in the world have my condition’: Disability activist uses TikTok to raise awareness:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/04/28/dylan-lombard/

* "Human infections from rat urine on the rise in New York City:" https://abcnews.go.com/US/human-infections-rat-urine-rise-new-york-city/story?id=109339745

* "Wildfire smoke contributes to thousands of deaths each year in the U.S.:" https://www.npr.org/2024/04/18/1245068810/wildfire-smoke-contributes-to-thousands-of-deaths-each-year-in-the-u-s

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* "Once praised, settlement to help sickened BP oil spill workers leaves most with nearly nothing:" https://apnews.com/article/gulf-spill-lawsuits-bp-health-chemical-exposure-f3845a3cb9da869d2689452a7dec0c9c?

* "Internet data centers are fueling drive to old power source: Coal:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/interactive/2024/data-centers-internet-power-source-coal/

* "You Can Still Die From World War I Dangers in France’s Red Zones:" https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/red-zones-in-france

* "The cloud under the sea:" https://www.theverge.com/c/24070570/internet-cables-undersea-deep-repair-ships

* "Suburbs Are Failing Us (for now...):"

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* "How the UN is Holding Back the Sahara Desert:"

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* "Recoding Voyager 1—NASA’s interstellar explorer is finally making sense again:" https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/04/recoding-voyager-1-nasas-interstellar-explorer-is-finally-making-sense-again/

* "A strange fungus could transform emerging cicadas into ‘saltshakers of death,’ scientists say:" https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/15/world/cicada-fungus-zombie-scn/index.html

* "Most people are disgusted by these animals. These New Yorkers are filling their homes with them.:" https://www.vox.com/climate/24112595/new-york-city-wildlife-rehabilitators-pigeons-opossums-squirrels

* "Ancient Fashion: The Oldest Pieces of Clothing and Accessories Ever Found:" https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/oldest-clothing-accessories-in-history/

* "The Former Slave Who Became a Cowboy, a Rancher, and a Texas Legend:" https://archive.is/2evqk#selection-2236.0-2236.1

* "This Chinese American Aviatrix Overcame Racism to Fly for the U.S. During World War II:" https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/this-chinese-american-aviatrix-overcame-racism-to-fly-for-the-us-during-world-war-ii-180984196/

* "Did London Have Segregation?: The London History Show:"

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* "How the FBI Destroyed the Careers of 41 Women in TV and Radio:" https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/how-the-fbi-destroyed-the-careers-of-progressive-women/

* "New Jersey Rep. Donald Payne Jr. Dies at 65, Just 3 Weeks After Heart Attack:" https://www.thedailybeast.com/new-jersey-rep-donald-payne-jr-dies-at-65-just-3-weeks-after-heart-attack

* "Conjoined twins Lori Schappell and trans man George Schappell dead at 62:" https://www.advocate.com/obituaries/conjoined-twins-trans-man-schappell

* 4/28/24: A massive bureaucracy packet arrived Wednesday afternoon. Sigh. It is exhausting and on top of everything handwriting with my dominant hand is difficult and unpleasant. There is nothing for it. i need the packet finished and out so I can focus on the other bureaucracy that arrived Tuesday. and Physio. And Everything else. It's time sensitive anyway.

Thursday I was still recovering from physio and I had to stay up for the cleaner. (Two times in a row! Things are clean!). Friday I spent a couple hours doing phone bureaucracy, mostly on hold. It'd be faster if Social security voice bot believed in my weird foreign name. Sigh.

Saturday was the Great Sorting. Sunday should be Actual Paperwork. I need Squirrel to print a thing out for me too which is always a drama and requires carrying the printer around.

And then there's the waiting for Things to Arrive in the Mail and the field trip to turn things in which involves highway driving, which I can hopefully manage at that point. *fingers crossed*

My arm still emphatically does not want to go up. I have devised an extra low impact stretch for myself where I rest it on the desk podium where Klaus laptop used to set before the Emperor executed Aidan lap top. It seems small and stupid, but is clearly a lot less dangerous than the official upward arm stretch. I do it in small batches when reading longer things on the internet. I wish I could do it Instead of, but I know better.

Goth Millennial has been very busy in the garden, which is needful. They are moving soon and have decided that they won't need metal outdoor shelving they had been using indoors at their place. They are therefore constructing more plant shelving on the patio. Livia is pretty sure it is actually the zombie hoard coming to get her. The garden is going pretty well despite the weird chill that has persisted most of April despite the weird late March heat wave. Climate change is do weird shit to our weather patterns.

* 5/3/24:
Monday was fire inspection. This involves about an hour of teeth rattling sirens at random interval and a Stranger in Boots invading the cat asylum. As a result, the cats have been incredibly stressed out all week, though things were finally settling down as of Thursday.

Squirrel has been having an ongoing medical issue that got acute enough that on Tuesday they agreed to fit him in extremely early Wednesday morning. I was able to cancel my medical transport for arm torture, and took him. While he was in there I cashed a bunch of the May OTC at the pharmacy and took my bureaucracy packet in to the office where it goes. The timing was excellent. I was a few blocks away when they released squirrel and there was just time enough to take him to his referral for more testing and then drop him home before my appointment. (Everyone's being reasonable about the situation including his employer. I feel a lot better knowing they are checking properly to rule out more serious things.)

Arm torture is arm torture. The new PT is really nice and a delight. We are at the lots and lots of stupid little exercise phase still. (The exercises are correct and there is already noticeable improvement, but they are also emotionally unsatisfying. It is hard to explain. This is probably an ex-athlete psychology problem. In any case, I am being good and not pushing dangerously hard. I dropped stuff my body was not up to Monday evening like I'm supposed to. I am doing everything I reasonably can, which is all of it most days. I am working the program). He added two extra ones to help my arm with the doesn't want to go up issue.

* CW: Animal Death "Kristi Noem, Puppy Killer | Did Trump Fart In Court? | Why Pecker Wouldn’t Pay Stormy Daniels:"

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* I'm not really all the way back yet. My arm and hand get too tired, but this is part of the slow ramp up on the Aggregate.

---

* This was wildly illegal. "Israeli strike on Iran’s consulate in Syria killed 2 generals and 5 other officers, Iran says:" https://apnews.com/article/israel-syria-airstrike-iranian-embassy-edca34c52d38c8bc57281e4ebf33b240

* "Iran launches drone attack against Israel:" https://www.politico.com/news/2024/04/13/iran-israel-attacks-00152116

* Well, fuck. "Israeli missiles hit site in Iran, ABC News reports:" https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-missiles-hit-site-iran-abc-news-reports-2024-04-19/

* Food aid to Gaza for Ramadan: https://support.anera.org/a/ramadan-2024

* "Palestine Children’s Relief Fund:" https://pcrf1.app.neoncrm.com/forms/gaza-recovery

* Verified charities to help Palestinians: https://cleolinda.tumblr.com/post/737312194805612544

* Fundraisers for Gaza: https://www.tumblr.com/el-shab-hussein/742344297699999744/hi-if-its-okay-i-saw-you-were-boosting?source=share

******

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* "Germany arrests two for alleged military sabotage plot on behalf of Russia:" https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germany-arrests-two-alleged-military-sabotage-plot-behalf-russia-2024-04-18/

* Extended Interview with Christiane Amanpour:

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* "DeRay on the ‘wild case’ against him and how the Supreme Court responded:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/deray-on-the-wild-case-against-him-and-how-the-supreme-court-responded-209220677932

* "‘Despicable:’ Hayes blasts Sen. Tom Cotton for ‘incitement of violence’:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/-despicable-hayes-blasts-sen-tom-cotton-for-incitement-of-violence-209122373514

* "Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Wild Strategy to Delay Foreign Aid Package:" https://newrepublic.com/post/180799/marjorie-taylor-greene-amendments-ukraine-israel-aid

* "New report shows role of Republican useful idiots in weakening U.S., advancing Putin's goals:" https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/new-report-shows-role-of-republican-useful-idiots-in-weakening-u-s-advancing-putin-s-goals-209230917612

* They sent articles without naming a crime or evidence of a crime, which you need to do to impeach someone.
"With impeachment dud, House Republicans fail to produce political stunt Trump needs:" https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/with-impeachment-dud-house-republicans-fail-to-produce-political-stunt-trump-needs-209130565525

* "GOP makes clumsy effort to superimpose anti-woke political games onto campus antisemitism debate:" https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/gop-makes-clumsy-effort-to-superimpose-anti-woke-political-games-onto-campus-antisemitism-debate-209230917808

* "Embattled Mike Johnson kept in check by conservative House 'FART' team:" https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/embattled-mike-johnson-kept-in-check-by-conservative-house-fart-team-209310277916

* Stop the government censoring queer and other minority voices off the Internet in the US : https://www.stopkosa.com/

* Have something you want to tell your Congress Critters? If you can't safely contact them 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://resist.bot/
To get your Critters' numbers to call direct: https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member

* The Indivisible Guide: "A Practical Guide to defeating MAGA:" https://indivisible.org/sites/default/files/2023-01/20220104_Indivisible_%20A%20Practical%20Guide%20to%20Defeating%20MAGA.pdf

* "Combat training for election workers? Arizona braces for Trump-addled election deniers:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/combat-training-for-election-workers-arizona-braces-for-trump-addled-election-deniers-207675973604

* "U.S. foes exploit Trump's divisiveness with fake MAGA accounts; China adopts Russian tactics:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/u-s-foes-exploit-trump-s-divisiveness-with-fake-maga-accounts-china-adopts-russian-tactics-208122949678

* "Big Lie 2.0: Johnson joins Trump to concoct new false narrative for 2024:" https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/big-lie-2-0-johnson-joins-trump-to-concoct-new-false-narrative-for-2024-208911429682

* "'Gentleman's Big Lie': Hayes rips MAGA attempt to sanitize stolen election lies:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/-gentleman-s-big-lie-hayes-rips-maga-attempt-to-sanitize-stolen-election-lies-208900677944

* Primaries are ongoing:

NOTE: There is a call for people to vote "uncommitted" in the Democratic primary as a protest against Biden's Israel policy. The time to pressure Biden with your vote is now, not in November. The pressure from all the different types of protests do seem to be working, if far slower than we'd like.

NOTE 2: There is a similar protest against Trump where people vote for a candidate who isn't running. Check your state to see who people are promoting.

Puerto Rico (Republicans): 4/21/24

Pennsylvania: 4/23/24

Puerto Rico (Democrats): 4/28/24

Indiana: 5/7/24


Know your state's schedule and where to vote. Make sure you and your friends are registered. If you are voting in person, plan how to get there.

If you live in an open primary state consider voting strategically. Otherwise, vote your heart in the primary. Remember how all those votes for Sanders and Warren pushed Biden and the party platform further left?

Remember to vote in all the races, not just the top of the ticket even if it's in a separate primary (as it is in my state). Who runs congress, your state, and your local government really matters. In some states this is a separate primary. Check the rules for your state.

Never, ever sleep on a chance to vote.

It is always better to vote for someone who will listen to us than to let someone who is actively trying to kill us.

* "Elizabeth Warren: Biden will go after tax cheaters. Trump won't. :" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/elizabeth-warren-biden-will-go-after-tax-cheaters-trump-won-t-209175621599

* "Why Republicans are hiding behind the politics of personality:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/why-republicans-are-hiding-behind-the-politics-of-personality-208600133609

* "Bernie Sanders slams Trump for using Israel-Hamas war to play ‘stupid politics’:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/bernie-sanders-slams-trump-for-using-israel-hamas-war-to-play-stupid-politics-208749637839

* "Media whiffs on the news in Trump's abortion statement as Dobbs becomes weaponized on global scale:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/media-whiffs-on-the-news-in-trump-s-abortion-statement-as-dobbs-becomes-weaponized-on-global-scale-208599621503

* "Meet the far-right extremist plotting Trump's second term:" https://www.msnbc.com/jonathan-capehart/watch/meet-the-far-right-extremist-plotting-trump-s-second-term-208480837542

* CW: CSA "The 'unbelievable' story behind Arizona's 1864 abortion ban:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/the-unbelievable-story-behind-arizona-s-1864-abortion-ban-208823877973

* "'They know they are losing': Democrats call GOP's bluff on repeal of Civil War-era abortion law:" https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/-they-know-they-are-losing-democrats-call-gop-s-bluff-on-repeal-of-civil-war-era-abortion-law-208836677709

* "Kari Lake abruptly dumps past support for old abortion ban; exposes ignorance of child tax law:" https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/kari-lake-abruptly-dumps-past-support-for-old-abortion-ban-exposes-ignorance-of-child-tax-law-208917573523

---

* "The Trump Trials: Trump’s jury seems nearly set. How we got here:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/04/18/trump-jury-selection-latest-news/

* "Judge scolds Trump for ‘intimidating’ potential jurors on Day 2 of New York trial:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/judge-scolds-trump-for-intimidating-potential-jurors-on-day-2-of-new-york-trial-209117765761

* "More than mere media bias: How New York prosecutors see Trump's scheme with the National Enquirer :" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/more-than-mere-media-bias-how-new-york-prosecutors-see-trump-s-scheme-with-the-national-enquirer-209054789666

* "The real DOJ corruption scandal at the heart of Trump's criminal trial in New York:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/the-real-doj-corruption-scandal-at-the-heart-of-trump-s-criminal-trial-in-new-york-209055301586

* "Bank with a checkered past and a deep history with Trump raises red flags:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/bank-with-a-checkered-past-and-a-deep-history-with-trump-raises-red-flags-208601669804

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* "What stops rain from flooding your city?:"

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* "How (And Why) Europe Is Removing Its Dams:"

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* "Public toilets in Japan are CHEAP… in comparison to Canada:"

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* "A More Perfect Union:"

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* "Faith Ringgold, quilt and visual artist, dies at 93:" https://www.npr.org/2024/04/13/685930840/faith-ringgold-quilt-and-visual-artist-dies-at-93

* 4/12/24: Today they sent a hard working my ageish Quebequois gentleman who was willing to mop and everything. I was his first gig on the app. He was charming to chat to, has children and a cat at home, was worried about my safety on the wet floors.

He flashed me the sweetest little smile when I asked if he was Quebequois, pronouncing it right, which he remarked on. Most Americans don't. We talked about his home city, which I'd visited and the beautiful diversity of French regional accents as well as educational reform and the feeding of cats.

I suspect his wife is a lucky woman.

Today also the swelling had gone down enough to wear the beautiful octopus shirt. This brings me up to three wearable shirts. I found another looking for something in my drawers for a housewarming gift for a Millennial Wednesday. This means i have three other shorts to try out to see if my arm fits okay in them instead of two.

I have clean sheets. Both tent shirts are in the wash as I type this, which is good as I got soup on one and had to fish the dirty one out to wear last night. the cats are having a nice afternoon watching birds and puttering about.

I got six hours of sleep most nights this week and eight on Thursday. I hadn't had eight hours since before the operation.

* 4/26: I expect to be about 50ish short on the up coming car repair and about 150 short for bills.

Not ideal, but could be worse.

Want to chip in? https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/Gwydion

* "Can Trump Get A Fair Trial In New York? | Tracking Truth Social’s Share Price | Data-Hungry AI:"

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* "Arizona Turns The Clock Back To 1864 | Trump’s Abortion Dodge | NCAA Women Rule:"

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* "Meanwhile… Eclipse Glasses Recall | New Jersey Beach Trash | Nutmobile Drivers Wanted:"

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* "Executions: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO):"

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* I don't approve of the Shrek joke about Tunkasila Sakpe Paha, but I am posting anyway as the rest is important. "Medicaid: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO):"

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* "Shoggoth's Old Peculiar:"

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* "Chipotle’s Guac Robot:"

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* "The Late Show Band Nabs Endorsement Deals:"

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* "The Late Show Offices Fell Prey To A Hawk Attack!:"

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* "Mansfield Park, Part II:" https://www.thechatner.com/p/mansfield-park-part-ii?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=5&post_id=143598868&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=ykw2&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

* The Locked Tomb: On John Gaius' erasure of memory: https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/748154025072017408/is-it-better-if-john-erased-their-memories-or-if?source=share

* "Sunday Sweets Is All About April:" https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/sunday-sweets-is-all-about-april-2024

*****
* 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.

* People have been asking for ways to help trans people in West Virginia, given the scary shit going on there. So far this organization is suggested. I'm keeping an eye out for more ways to help. If you have suggestions, please let me know. "Fairness West Virginia:" https://fairnesswv.org/donate/

* To track more general LGBTQIA+ Legislation: https://www.lgbtmap.org/

* "How you can support queer and trans kids in Oklahoma after Nex Benedict’s death:" https://www.advocate.com/news/how-to-help-trans-kids

* An organization for the parents of trans youths: https://transparentusa.org/

* "2024 Trans Girl Scouts To Order Cookies From!:" https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/2024-trans-girl-scouts-to-order-cookies

* "World Central Kitchen:" https://wck.org/

* "Palestine Children’s Relief Fund:" https://pcrf1.app.neoncrm.com/forms/gaza-recovery

* Verified charities to help Palestinians: https://cleolinda.tumblr.com/post/737312194805612544

* Fundraisers for Gaza: https://www.tumblr.com/el-shab-hussein/742344297699999744/hi-if-its-okay-i-saw-you-were-boosting?source=share

* Help Queer Folks in Ghana: https://www.silentmajorityghana.com/donate

* "Library of Congress Launches New Website for Americans to Share COVID-19 Stories:" https://newsroom.loc.gov/news/library-of-congress-launches-new-website-for-americans-to-share-covid-19-stories/s/d5739534-fec6-4e13-9f16-68d6117ee94b

* "We’re looking for English-speaking neopronoun users (aged 18+) to participate in a paid linguistics study.:" https://allthingslinguistic.com/post/741780492503990272/kirby-conrod-is-a-cool-linguist-whos-done-neat

( More Links Underneath: )

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* "Israel plans to build 3,300 new settlement homes. It says it’s a response to a Palestinian attack:" https://apnews.com/article/israel-settlements-hamas-gaza-war-netanyahu-smotrich-1d2306d55c24c8559b630d9f20db30e2

* CW: Rape. "U.N. report finds ‘reasonable grounds’ to believe victims were sexually assaulted Oct. 7:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/03/04/israel-hamas-war-news-gaza-palestine/#link-MVPCJFYKPVHJHIVS2GUXLG6WQQ

* "Gaza: Worst famine fears realised as 10th child reportedly ‘starves to death’:" https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/03/1147112

* "Palestine Children’s Relief Fund:" https://pcrf1.app.neoncrm.com/forms/gaza-recovery

* Verified charities to help Palestinians: https://cleolinda.tumblr.com/post/737312194805612544

* Fundraisers for Gaza: https://www.tumblr.com/el-shab-hussein/742344297699999744/hi-if-its-okay-i-saw-you-were-boosting?source=share

******

* "Harris urges a Gaza cease-fire for hostage deal, presses Israel to ease aid delivery:" https://www.npr.org/2024/03/03/1235712368/kamala-harris-gaza-ceasefire-israel-aid

* "HOW ISRAEL QUIETLY CRUSHED EARLY AMERICAN JEWISH DISSENT ON PALESTINE:" https://theintercept.com/2024/03/03/israel-our-palestine-question-zionism-american-jews/

******

* "In Ethiopia, a secret committee orders killings and arrests to crush rebels:" https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/ethiopia-violence-committee/

******

* "31,000 Ukrainian troops killed since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Zelenskyy says:" https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-troops-killed-zelenskyy-675f53437aaf56a4d990736e85af57c4

* "How one officer class offers a glimpse into Russia’s military amid Ukraine war:" https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/ukraine-crisis-russia-officers/

* "Indians are unwittingly recruited into the Russian army:" https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2024/02/29/indians-are-unwittingly-recruited-into-the-russian-army_6573586_4.html

* "How Russian officials and their collaborators spirit away Ukraine’s children:" https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/ukraine-crisis-children/

* "Ukrainian veterans protest after church withdrawals gay soldier's medal:" https://www.advocate.com/world/ukrainian-gay-soldier-medal-withdrawn

* "With lives shattered by war, Ukrainian teens build new dreams:" https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/ukraine-crisis-anniversary-teenagers/

* "Inside Ukraine’s Wartime Salons:" https://www.allure.com/story/ukraine-wartime-salons?utm_source=pocket_discover

---

* "Russia’s Wagner Group expands into Africa’s Sahel with a new brand:" https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/12/russias-wagner-group-expands-into-africas-sahel-with-a-new-brand.html

* "Yulia Navalnaya once avoided the limelight. Now she’s Russia’s newest opposition leader:" https://apnews.com/article/yulia-navalnaya-navalny-death-92efe8fa54fa6a6614fb3433c27e4878

* "Inside ‘The Game’: The dangerous new path migrants are risking to get to the EU:" https://inews.co.uk/news/world/refugee-europe-bosnia-asylum-seeker-2916539

* CW: Sexual Abuse. "Inside North Korea's Forced-Labor Program:" https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/03/04/inside-north-koreas-forced-labor-program-in-china

* "Asylum-seekers risk lives to cross Rio Grande into US:" https://www.reuters.com/pictures/asylum-seekers-risk-lives-cross-rio-grande-into-us-2024-02-26/

* "A unanimous Supreme Court restores Trump to the Colorado ballot:" https://www.npr.org/2024/03/04/1230453714/supreme-court-trump-colorado-ballot

* "4 takeaways from the Supreme Court’s ruling on Trump and 14th Amendment:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/03/04/takeaways-supreme-court-trump-ruling/

* "Amazon’s Big Secret:" https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/02/amazon-profits-antitrust-ftc/677580/

* "Republicans who say they support IVF backed a bill protecting life ‘at conception’:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/02/25/ivf-republicans-legislation/

* Have something you want to tell your Congress Critters? If you can't safely contact them 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://resist.bot/
To get your Critters' numbers to call direct: https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member

* The Indivisible Guide: "A Practical Guide to defeating MAGA:" https://indivisible.org/sites/default/files/2023-01/20220104_Indivisible_%20A%20Practical%20Guide%20to%20Defeating%20MAGA.pdf

* The Republican War on Democracy continues. "Trump’s Allies Ramp Up Campaign Targeting Voter Rolls:" https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/03/us/politics/trump-voter-rolls.html

* "It Can Happen Here: A new project tracking creeping authoritarianism.:" https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/03/it-can-happen-here-trump-authoritarianism-fascism/

* "She’s a Prophet. She’s a Theocrat. She’s the Most Powerful Lobbyist You’ve Never Heard Of.:" https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2023/08/abby-abildness-lobbyist/

* "'The Republican Party is going through some things': Maddow marvels at GOP veering into extremism:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/maddow-marvels-at-gop-veering-into-extremism-right-up-to-the-top-205461573974

* "U.S. voters face stark contrast in 2024 choices, with no 'magic wand' coming to help:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/u-s-voters-face-stark-contrast-in-2024-choices-with-no-magic-wand-coming-to-help-205463621504

* "Laverne Cox is begging all queer Americans to vote Democrat in the 2024 election:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/laverne-cox-election-2024

* "Black LGBTQ+ candidates still face bigotry — here's how they're fighting it:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/black-lgbtq-politicians-obstacles

* "Oregon mayoral candidate was involved in 1984 gay bashing but says he's changed:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/oregon-mayoral-candidate-gay-bashing

* "Missouri Republicans try to remove man with ties to KKK from party ballot:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/donald-trump-mark-robinson-mlk

* "Offensive comments by N.C. Republican stand out even in Trump’s party:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/2024/03/02/mark-robinson-governor-candidate-north-carolina-offensive-comments/

* "Donald Trump endorses Mark Robinson, who said gays are ‘filth’ and ‘maggots,’ for NC governor:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/donald-trump-mark-robinson-mlk

* "Trump calls GOP's most toxic candidate 'Martin Luther King times two':" https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/3/4/2227413/-Trump-calls-GOP-s-most-toxic-candidate-Martin-Luther-King-times-two

* Presidential Primaries are ongoing:

NOTE: There is now a call for people to vote "uncommitted" in the Democratic primary as a protest against Biden's Israel policy, I have voted that way in my up coming primary. The time to pressure Biden with your vote is now, not in November. The more of us who do this the more likely he'll actually do something.

Alabama, Alaska (Republicans), Arkansas, California, Colorado, Iowa (Democrats), Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, American Samoa (Democrats): 3/5/24

Hawaii: (Democrats): 3/6/24

American Samoa (Republicans): 3/8/24

Know your state's schedule and where to vote. Make sure you and your friends are registered. If you are voting in person, plan how to get there.

If you live in an open primary state consider voting strategically. Otherwise, vote your heart in the primary. Remember how all those votes for Sanders and Warren pushed Biden and the party platform further left?

Remember to vote in all the races, not just the top of the ticket even if it's in a separate primary (as it is in my state). Who runs congress, your state, and your local government really matters. In some states this is a separate primary. Check the rules for your state.

Never, ever sleep on a chance to vote.

It is always better to vote for someone who will listen to us than to let someone who is actively trying to kill us.

* "'Uncommitted' protest over Biden's Israel support heads to Minnesota:" https://www.reuters.com/world/us/uncommitted-protest-aims-minnesota-over-bidens-israel-support-2024-03-04/

* "Biden says Trump wouldn't concede next time: "Losers are never graceful":" https://www.axios.com/2024/03/04/biden-trump-2024-election-concede

* "Nikki Haley wins DC primary, first victory for campaign:" https://www.politico.com/news/2024/03/03/haley-dc-primary-results-00144502

* "Hungarian PM Orban to meet ally Trump on March 8:" https://www.reuters.com/world/hungarian-pm-orban-meet-trump-march-8-florida-2024-03-04/

* "At CPAC, Trump Invokes Clashing Visions of America’s Future:" https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/24/us/politics/trump-cpac.html

* ""Truly dystopian": Experts worry Trump's school vaccine plan will spark "public health catastrophe":" https://www.salon.com/2024/03/04/truly-dystopian-experts-worry-school-vaccine-plan-will-spark-public-health-catastrophe/

* ""He looks lost": Alarm after Trump's "mind blanks out" repeatedly during speech:" https://www.salon.com/2024/03/04/he-looks-lost-alarm-after-mind-blanks-out-repeatedly-during-speech/

* "Trump’s White House Was ‘Awash in Speed’ — and Xanax:" https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/trump-white-house-drugs-speed-xanax-1234979503/

* "Kentucky bill threatens to take custody of trans kids using ‘wrong’ school bathroom:" https://www.advocate.com/news/kentucky-bill-take-trans-children

* I think we all know why they want this and what they are going to do to the women. "New Oklahoma bill could allow state to create database of women who had abortions:" https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2024/02/15/oklahoma-abortion-law-kevin-west-bill-creates-database-women/72613836007/#:~:text=New%20Oklahoma%20bill%20could%20allow,of%20women%20who%20had%20abortions&text=A%20Democratic%20lawmaker%20expressed%20concerns,procedure%20and%20ban%20emergency%20contraception.

* "A bill protecting birth control access is headed to Virginia’s governor. Here’s why Republicans said they opposed it.:" https://www.pilotonline.com/2024/03/01/a-bill-protecting-birth-control-access-is-headed-to-virginias-governor-heres-why-republicans-said-they-opposed-it/

* "As Missouri lawmakers continue attacking LGBTQ+ rights, one city is taking a stand against hate:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/columbia-missouri-lgbtq-safe-haven

* "Georgia Senate passes bill to create ‘America First’ license plate:" https://www.ajc.com/politics/georgia-senate-passes-bill-creating-america-first-license-plate/XHE3RYKTN5DLPAOJ6PKZRK3HH4/

Reminder: "America first" is a NAZI slogan broadly adopted by Trump and the Republicans for obvious reasons.

* "California Sen. Laphonza Butler reads Audre Lorde in protest of GOP book banning:" https://www.advocate.com/books/banned-books-laphonza-butler

* "Oklahoma superintendent’s ties to anti-trans influencer spark outrage in wake of Nex Benedict’s death:" https://www.advocate.com/news/ryan-walters-transphobic-influencer-ties

* "Oklahoma superintendent and Libs of TikTok celebrate bullying gay principal out of job for drag persona:" https://www.advocate.com/news/oklahoma-drag-principal-resignation

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* "San Francisco prosecutors will seek a retrial in bondage and poppers killing of gay man:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/san-francisco-poppers-murder-retrial

* "Oklahoma High School’s atmosphere of bullying exposed in wake of Nex Benedict’s death:" https://www.advocate.com/news/owasso-high-school-bullying-oklahoma

* "After Nex Benedict's death, 350 LGBTQ+ groups, activists, and celebs urge Oklahoma superintendent's removal:" https://www.advocate.com/news/activists-demand-ryan-walters-removal

* "Nex Benedict's death spurs student walkout at his Oklahoma high school over anti-LGBTQ+ bullying:" https://www.advocate.com/news/nex-benedict-walkout-lgbtq-bullying

* "Nex Benedict vigils are erupting across the country. Here are powerful photos from these memorials:" https://www.advocate.com/news/nex-benedict-vigils-gallery#rebelltitem71

* "Attackers yelled antigay, racist slurs during beach party stabbing of teen boy in California:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/antigay-slurs-teen-attacked-california

* "Colorado police looking for two men who attacked a man in potential antigay hate crime:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/colorado-police-2-men-looking

* "Teachers are tired of the culture wars — and many support LGBTQ+ curricula, Pew survey finds:" https://www.advocate.com/news/teachers-lgbtq-race-education-legislation

* Republicans are winning their war on Bodily Autonomy. "Texas quietly restricts gender-affirming care for trans adults: 'Canary in the coalmine':" https://www.advocate.com/news/texas-gender-affirming-care-medicaid

* "Appeals court lets Indiana's gender-affirming care ban go into effect:" https://www.advocate.com/news/indiana-trans-care-ban-upheld

* "The fight to decolonize queer identity:" https://www.advocate.com/voices/trinah-kakyo

* "Transgender rights are under attack not just in the U.S., but around the world: study:" https://www.advocate.com/news/transgender-rights-attack-world

* "Ghana: UN and human rights groups condemn passage of ‘profoundly disturbing’ anti-LGBTQ+ bill:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/03/01/ghana-anti-lgbtq-bill-condemn-un-human-rights-groups/

* Help Queer Folks in Ghana: https://www.silentmajorityghana.com/donate

* "Police raid ‘My Little Pony’ gathering and a gay night at a local club in Russia:" https://www.advocate.com/news/russia-my-little-pony-raid

* "Gay airline employee subject to 'torture' after arrest in Qatar, family says:" https://www.advocate.com/news/gay-airline-torture-qatar-grindr

* "The Czech Republic expands unions for same-sex couples but rejects marriage and full adoption rights:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/02/29/czech-republic-vote-against-queer-community/

* "Nepal must not move backwards on trans rights:" https://www.advocate.com/voices/manisha-dhakal

* "New South Wales Police commissioner vows to ‘do better’ for victims of LGBTQ+ hate crimes:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/02/26/new-south-wales-police-report-lgbtqia/

* "Police find bodies of murdered reporter Jesse Baird and his boyfriend:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/jess-baird-murder-details

* "Sydney Mardi Gras comes to a halt as parade pays moving tribute to killed gay couple:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/03/02/jesse-baird-and-luke-davies-sydney-mardi-gras/

* "Trans woman Tiffany Scott dies in custody at high-security Scottish prison:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/03/01/trans-woman-tiffany-scott-dies-in-custody-at-high-security-scottish-prison/

* "MP praised for defending trans rights as conversion therapy ban debate turns into ‘garbled mess’:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/03/02/conversion-therapy-bill/

* "Texas Gov. Greg Abbott tells U.N. to 'go pound sand' after LGBTQ+ rights criticism:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/texas-greg-abbott-un-lgbtq

* "Texas AG Ken Paxton can't get PFLAG's data on trans members and care: court:" https://www.advocate.com/law/ken-paxton-pflag-transgender

* "The sinister reason why the Texas Attorney General is demanding LGBTQ+ group members’ names:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/03/01/ken-paxton-pflag-national/

* "A pious Church and Cardinal Dolan trashes a dead trans woman who, like Jesus, helped the marginalized:" https://www.advocate.com/voices/cecilia-gentili-dolan-marginalized

* "Ohio man faces charges after urinating on LGBTQ+ Pride flag in porch while shouting ‘f**k the gays’:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/02/28/ohio-man-pees-lgbtq-pride-flag-home/

* "Australian man awkwardly humps his way up a set of railings to avoid using ‘woke’ Pride stairs:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/03/03/man-avoids-gay-stairs/

* "Love Lost, And Found:" https://storycorps.org/animation/love-lost-and-found/

* "Is this the future of PrEP?:" https://www.hivplusmag.com/prep/future-of-prep

* "The FDA Says This Group Can Now Use Biktarvy Safely:" https://www.hivplusmag.com/treatment/fda-new-group-biktarvy-safely

* Wrap it up and get tested regularly. "Queer men aren't the only ones affected by recent syphilis spike:" https://www.hivplusmag.com/news/women-babies-affected-syphilis-spike

* "Gender and sexuality in autism, explained:" https://www.spectrumnews.org/news/gender-and-sexuality-in-autism-explained/

* They are going to kill some kids, aren't they? "Florida defies CDC in measles outbreak, telling parents it's fine to send unvaccinated kids to school:" https://www.cbsnews.com/news/florida-measles-outbreak-unvaccinated-kids-school/

* "There's a norovirus outbreak. Here's how to avoid it — and what to do if you catch it.:" https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/theres-a-norovirus-outbreak-heres-how-to-avoid-it--and-what-to-do-if-you-catch-it-224854240.html

* "Beyond the myths: ADHD explained in powerful comics:" https://www.kevinmd.com/2024/01/beyond-the-myths-adhd-explained-in-powerful-comics.html

* "Silent brain changes precede Alzheimer’s. Researchers have new clues about which come first:" https://apnews.com/article/alzheimers-dementia-amyloid-tau-b31db4ce15caf8b5c9c722b6240b2951

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* "Why industry is blocking the push for more energy efficient homes:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2024/02/21/homebuilders-energy-efficiency-climate/

* "In Cincinnati, redevelopment can mean artwork — and people — disappear:" https://www.npr.org/2024/02/21/1231466640/in-cincinnati-redevelopment-can-mean-artwork-and-people-disappear

* "The Future of Silk:" https://worksinprogress.co/issue/the-future-of-silk/

* "Apple’s Car Was Doomed by Its Lofty Ambitions to Outdo Tesla:" https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2024-03-03/why-was-apple-car-canceled-the-hubris-in-apple-thinking-it-could-outdo-tesla-ltbke5ut

* "X/Twitter has ‘quietly restored’ a ban on misgendering and deadnaming trans people:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/03/01/x-twitter-has-quietly-restored-a-ban-on-misgendering-and-deadnaming-trans-people/

* "Elon Musk sues OpenAI's Sam Altman for breach of contract:" https://www.advocate.com/news/sam-altman-openai-elon-musk

* "Can Humans Endure the Psychological Torment of Mars?:" https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/25/magazine/mars-isolation-experiment.html

* "Twin Bell's turtles hatch during research project to repopulate the species in the NSW New England region:" https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-21/belles-turtle-repopulation-program-produces-twin-hatchlings-une/103485442

* "Getting that 'Moby Dick' — The first humpback whales to be seen having sex are both male:" https://www.advocate.com/news/humpback-whale-gay-sex

* "Charlotte, a stingray with no male companion, is pregnant in her mountain aquarium:" https://apnews.com/article/stingray-pregnant-charlotte-north-carolina-1da7d7ab06bf22169ef2c8e589db9cb4

* "Pythagoras was wrong: There are no universal musical harmonies, study finds:" https://phys.org/news/2024-02-pythagoras-wrong-universal-musical-harmonies.html

* "Rediscovering Rome’s Female Merchants:" https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/antiquity-roman-female-merchants

* "A mysterious 2,000-year-old Iron Age warrior was female, a new study shows:" https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/old-iron-age-female-warrior-scilly-iburial-rcna96595

* "The Humour of Medieval Scribes:" https://www.medievalists.net/2024/02/humour-medieval-scribes/

* "Tales of the Catfish God: Earthquakes in Japanese Woodblock Prints (1855):" https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/earthquakes-in-japanese-woodblock-prints/

* "Recovering the Lost Aviators of World War II:" https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/recovering-lost-aviators-world-war-ii-180983690/

* "Meet the Boston native at the center of the Tuskegee Airmen mural at Logan Airport:" https://www.wgbh.org/news/local/2024-02-29/meet-the-boston-native-at-the-center-of-the-tuskegee-airmen-mural-at-logan-airport

* "Rosalind Franklin was so much more than the ‘wronged heroine’ of DNA:" https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02144-4

* "What Is the Dominant Emotion in 400 Years of Women’s Diaries?:" https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/what-is-the-dominant-emotion-in-400-years-of-womens-diaries-180983834/

* "The Endangered Languages of NYC:" https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/02/22/magazine/endangered-languages-nyc.html

* "The Black Women of Gee’s Bend Work Hard and Easy: The wonder world of quilt-making:" https://commonreader.wustl.edu/c/the-black-women-of-gees-bend-work-hard-and-easy/

* "Some Museums Scrambled to Remove Native American Items From Display. These Museums Didn’t Need to.:" https://www.propublica.org/article/why-museum-of-us-history-colorado-didnt-scramble-meet-new-repatriation-rules

* "Pat Logue, Lambda Legal attorney who won landmark cases, has died:" https://www.advocate.com/news/pat-logue-lambda-legal-obituary

* Saturday physio still gave me the shakes, but it was the first time I made any real progress with the hardest Exercise.

Monday, the car fix was cheaper than expected, but they discovered the power steering is about to Go. I've already paid the housing tax, which ate most of my discretionary funds, and I blew the entire EBT on shelf stable easy to make things for while I'm laid up plus a few perishables and I still need to hit the other store for fresh veg and such.

The car fix is expensive, as there aren't that many places carrying compatible parts for a car this ancient, so the price is like twice what it would have been a decade ago. I made the appointment for mid-April, when I hope to be allowed to drive as it takes two of us to drop off and pick up the car. The hope is it can survive another week, as I shan't be allowed to drive for any of March past the 12th.

Sigh. Being Poor is so damned expensive.

I have decided not to worry about it now. Getting through March is going to be hard enough given the surgery stuff. If worse comes to worst I'll just not pay anything but housing next month.

On the up side, the completely immobilized arm for two weeks turns out to have been for the rather extreme and complex surgery we though i was going to need. I am getting the medium surgery instead, so I'll be able to move it a little. It won't be good for much, but can move it a little will be a bit easier than not at all.

I am still stressed out about trips to the toilet and the like, trying to manage one handed without practice. I know lots of people manage fine with one or no arms. I once had a lover who only had one part of one arm and he was the most graceful man I've ever seen including professional dancers. I have no practice though, and I'm not going to be in great shape the first few days.

* "Pig Butchering Scams: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver:"

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* "Black writers share their favorite books to honor Black History Month:" https://www.advocate.com/books/black-writers-black-history-month

* "New Indigenous heist movie focuses on repatriation of belongings:" https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/the-great-salish-heist-1.7112633

* "A gender-bending Civil War soldier's tale comes to the musical stage:" https://www.advocate.com/theater/rosetta-project-civil-war-gender

* "Detectives - SNL:"

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* "Airbnb Design Commercial - SNL:"

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* "Sunday Sweets Sings It's Not Easy Being Green:" https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/sunday-sweets-sings-its-not-easy-being-green-2024

*****
* 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.

* People have been asking for ways to help trans people in West Virginia, given the scary shit going on there. So far this organization is suggested. I'm keeping an eye out for more ways to help. If you have suggestions, please let me know. "Fairness West Virginia:" https://fairnesswv.org/donate/

* To track more general LGBTQIA+ Legislation: https://www.lgbtmap.org/

* "How you can support queer and trans kids in Oklahoma after Nex Benedict’s death:" https://www.advocate.com/news/how-to-help-trans-kids

* An organization for the parents of trans youths: https://transparentusa.org/

* "2024 Trans Girl Scouts To Order Cookies From!:" https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/2024-trans-girl-scouts-to-order-cookies

* "World Central Kitchen:" https://wck.org/

* "Palestine Children’s Relief Fund:" https://pcrf1.app.neoncrm.com/forms/gaza-recovery

* Verified charities to help Palestinians: https://cleolinda.tumblr.com/post/737312194805612544

* Fundraisers for Gaza: https://www.tumblr.com/el-shab-hussein/742344297699999744/hi-if-its-okay-i-saw-you-were-boosting?source=share

* Help Queer Folks in Ghana: https://www.silentmajorityghana.com/donate

* "Library of Congress Launches New Website for Americans to Share COVID-19 Stories:" https://newsroom.loc.gov/news/library-of-congress-launches-new-website-for-americans-to-share-covid-19-stories/s/d5739534-fec6-4e13-9f16-68d6117ee94b

* "We’re looking for English-speaking neopronoun users (aged 18+) to participate in a paid linguistics study.:" https://allthingslinguistic.com/post/741780492503990272/kirby-conrod-is-a-cool-linguist-whos-done-neat

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