Nec Hoc Nec Ilud

* "Mass Greek protest over Macedonia name:" http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-42937889

* "NHS protest: thousands march to demand more cash for NHS:" https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/feb/04/nhs-budget-cuts-march-protest-jeremy-hunt-london-funding

* "UK leaders rebuke Trump for health care tweet:" http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/uk-leaders-rebuke-trump-for-health-care-tweet-1154418243839

* "For answers on Afghanistan, look to Pakistan:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/why-is-the-u-s-still-in-afghanistan-pakistan-1154492483931?playlist=associated

* "Some Eagles players are skipping the White House visit over Trump:" https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/05/politics/philadelphia-eagles-super-bowl-white-house-visit/index.html

* Dear Leader thinks people should be tried for treason for not applauding him. O.o Someone needs to explain to 45 that things like letting Russian intelligence dictate your foreign policy while president against the interests of the United states is treason, but failing to clap isn't. Maybe someone needs to make a School house Rock style cartoon explaining the first amendment to him. "Trump: Democrats 'Un-American,' 'Treasonous' During State Of The Union:" https://www.npr.org/2018/02/05/583447413/trump-democrats-un-american-treasonous-during-state-of-the-union

* "White House rejects bipartisan immigration plan:" https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/05/politics/trump-daca-mccain-coons-immigration-plan/index.html

* "Trump's lawyers want him to refuse interview with Mueller:" http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/trump-s-lawyers-want-him-to-refuse-interview-with-mueller-nyt-1154390083534

* "Rep. Lieu: ‘People would take to streets’ if Rosenstein fired:" http://www.msnbc.com/am-joy/watch/memo-doesn-t-give-trump-cause-to-fire-rosenstein-1153507907576

* "Rep. Schiff responds to Trump attacks over Russia probe:"http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/rep-schiff-responds-to-trump-attacks-over-russia-probe-1154414147546

* "Nunes memo stunt blows up in GOP's face:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/nunes-memo-stunt-blows-up-in-gop-s-face-1154475075653?playlist=associated

* "Zinke's agency held up Indians’ casino after MGM lobbying:" https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/01/zinkes-indian-casino-interior-312671

* "U.S. consumer protection official puts Equifax probe on ice:" https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-equifax-cfpb/exclusive-u-s-consumer-protection-official-puts-equifax-probe-on-ice-sources-idUSKBN1FP0IZ

* "Super Bowl national security docs left on plane:" https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/05/us/dhs-super-bowl-national-security-documents-left-on-plane-invs/index.html

* "Massive Pentagon agency lost track of hundreds of millions of dollars:" https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/05/pentagon-logistics-agency-review-funds-322860

* Let them eat cake. "Paul Ryan Deletes Tweet After He’s Mocked for Celebrating $1.50 Benefit From Tax Cut:" https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/02/paul-ryan-deletes-tweet-after-hes-mocked-for-celebrating-usd1-50-benefit-from-tax-cut.html

* "The GOP candidate who would represent a suburban Chicago district is an open Holocaust denier, white supremacist and anti-Semite:" https://boingboing.net/2018/02/05/arthur-jones.html

* "U.S. Supreme Court allows revamp of Pennsylvania electoral map:" https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-election/u-s-supreme-court-allows-revamp-of-pennsylvania-electoral-map-idUSKBN1FP2E0

* "Dow plunges 1,175 -- worst point decline in history:" http://money.cnn.com/2018/02/05/investing/stock-market-today-dow-jones/index.html

* "Market plunges, government shutdown looms:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/market-plunges-government-shutdown-looms-again-1154483779682?playlist=associated

* TW: Rape. "This Is Why Uma Thurman Is Angry:" https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/03/opinion/sunday/this-is-why-uma-thurman-is-angry.html?emc=edit_ta_20180203&nl=top-stories&nlid=69193558&ref=cta

* "Anguish amid Trump deportation crackdown:" http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/anguish-amid-trump-deportation-crackdown-1154422339705

* "Ebony Morgan's Killer Found Guilty:" http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2018/02/ebony-morgans-killer-found-guilty.html

* "James Baldwin - Pin Drop Speech:"

( Embed: )

* "Remains in Europe: mummified woman in Basel is Boris Johnson’s ancestor:" https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jan/25/remains-in-europe-mummified-woman-in-basel-is-boris-johnsons-ancestor

* This pretty much fits with historical/archaeological record, so it's really confirmation, not a surprise. "New genetic map reveals Irish people share far more DNA with the British and Vikings than previously believed:" http://irishpost.co.uk/new-genetic-map-reveals-irish-people-share-far-dna-british-vikings-previously-believed/

* "Ancient Eurasian DNA sequencing is revealing links with modern humans:" https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180125135609.htm

* "Titian painting given to Charles I's plumber goes up for sale:" https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2018/jan/22/titian-painting-king-charles-i-plumber-sale-auction

* "The Greatest African American and Afro-American Martial Artists in History:" https://outofthiscentury.wordpress.com/2014/03/25/the-greatest-african-american-and-afro-american-martial-artists-in-history/

* "Hunter Knocked Unconscious By Shot Goose Falling Out Of The Sky:" https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/02/04/583110844/hunter-knocked-unconscious-by-falling-dead-goose-shot-by-his-hunting-party

* The title is terrible, but it's a feminist look at the way fashion and real women's bodies collide. "What is the ‘ideal’ female body shape?:" http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20180122-what-is-the-ideal-female-body-shape

* "The evolution of the Australian accent:" https://phys.org/news/2018-01-evolution-australian-accent.html

* "Cut for Time: My Little Stepchildren (Natalie Portman) - SNL:"

( Embed: )

* "Weekend Update on Black History Month - SNL:"

( Embed: )

* "Weekend Update: Brigitte Bardot and Catherine Deneuve - SNL:"

( Embed: )

* I really only had 4-5 functional hours Sunday total, and went to bed very early. My sleep is mostly crappy still, but last night I wasn't having to wake up every 10-15 minutes to keep from choking which helps. I'll take fever dreams and frequent waking over tiny uncomfortable doses any day. When I got up, my breathing was a little better, so I decided not to try for emergency anti-biotics, although really I should make a lab result appointment soon. I have been craving comfort foods, like the impossible sandwich and a bunch of things my mom used to make. I've been too ill for experimental baking, but I managed some today. It was an edible failure, and I've ideas for further experiments as it was a near enough miss for me to do things like adjust for my weirdly uneven oven and work on substitutions to make the taste more like without getting me sick from allergens.

Today was a forage day, and I'm still trying to replenish depleted stores of staples. I planned things out to use the least gas, but it was still a grocery store, forage, pharmacy, library, and two other grocery stores on the way home which is a lot, even though they were all relatively quick trips. The second grocery store was extra frustrating. I wanted five specific things. One was there. One was nearly twice as expensive as I usually pay so I skipped it. The other three were out of stock. Sigh. I did find the herbal tea I'd thought had been discontinued a year or more ago as I haven't been able to find it anywhere and was shocked at check out to discover EBT no longer pays for it. Sigh. At the last store I did find the thing that wasn't at the store where it usually is on Saturday nor in the first store today, and was double priced at the second store. I am suspecting there might be a serious agricultural problem to the south of us, maybe related to the fires, mudslides, etc. that has borked the supply chain as that's likely screwed over their growing season, so I'm not blaming the stores for being out. Figuring processing/bottling time, I am thinking the Napa fire was timed just right to screw up supplies now. I did not find two of the three things I came specifically to the third store to get. Facepalm. I also remembered the thing I forgot to buy at the first store today while in the second store looking at their twice as expensive version. Maybe next Monday when I'm in that part of town for forage. The important thing though is that the four things I use all the time that I was out of or nearly out of going into the weekend are safely home in my cupboards. I also scored a basil plant. It's early in the season, so I'll need to bring it in if we have a cold snap, but that's one base covered and the plant is big and healthy looking, unlike the sickly things last season.

My dreaming brain has been spiraling architecture, which I love. I had this early modern fantasy novel type scenario where we were all people with terrible jobs (tavern, piece work, journymen/apprentices in the period were upward mobility bottle necked RL, only this was a low magic setting in a lesser regional market town.) There was this gorgeous cathedral in the center of town right on the market square and something happened that led to the bishop clearing out an attached convent gone wrong and do to some now forgotten convolution, I ended yup with it and decided to move all my misfit friends in and turn it into an Inn, only even as people were recruiting acts and the like for the entertainment of guests, I was exploring the place and my brain spun out more and more fascinating architecture spanning the 12-early 17th century. I love when my brain does that.

More ominous in the literal sense I dreamed a version of my high School graduation that was sort of smashed together with this May day fair my school used to do , but stopped about halfway through my Middle School with no explanation. RL, my parents had to force me to go, because the last thing I wanted to do was spend one more minute in that place with those people I wasn't strictly required to. The dress code for graduates was so much better than what they really forced us to wear, though still extremely gendered. This version of me transitioned androgyne Senior year and for some reason, no one commented on it, which is not what would have happened in that place and time. There was also a mix of people from the next two grades up who I was friends or sort of friends with who were obviously not there RL.

The real difference though was the aweful and beautiful blood red sky. I'm not talking sunset, red near the hiorizen. I'm talking uniform arterial red like a wound. Awesome in the original sense of the word, if that makes sense. This fairly light hearted celebration sor of thing was under a sky who's terrible beauty felt like the end of the world, and they were playing this game on the lawn, with rules you had to work out yourself while playing and if you lost, you got sucked through a door and were never seen again. In retrospect, this was merely a mpre overt version of what happened to the people the school broke real life, but I was too busy extricating myself from the playing field to ponder that at the time. It was all like that in the dream, really, lots of cryptic instructions and unwritten rules. More obvious and symbolic that RL, but recognizable. at the end, one by one I said good bye to folks from other years, from cross country/track, from the gang that hung out in the Alcove after school. Last of all a certain boy. I nearly said, "I've had a crush on you since I was 5," but instead I just silently waved goodbye as he he turned the corner out of my life forever.

When I got to my car, parked in my Dad's old spot from when I was in Lower and Middle School, which over looked the lawn where people were still playing the deadly game, the sky now bleeding for real onto the Chapel on the hill on the other side I had two final thoughts before waking: 1. The world is beautiful in it's dying. 2. This sky is something we will tell our grandchildren about, if enough of us survive long enough to have grandchildren. *shudder*

* Not yet seven months old, largest Cat in the house. She is creeping up on Tavy weight wise. http://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/170561555502/not-yet-seven-months-old-largest-cat-in-the

* The Power of Love in Tolkien: http://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/170547215037/kitteninteacup-obtrta-prismaticprince

* "Ghosts, Gaslighting, and Haunted Heroines: The Horror of “You’re Imagining Things”:" https://filmschoolrejects.com/ghosts-gaslighting-haunted-heroines-horror-youre-imagining-things/

* TNG: Season 6 Rewatch:

- 6.16-6.17 Birthright: They go to my beloved DS-9 to assist with water management technical stuff. There are two plots that reflect on each other, both to do with titular birthrights. One plot is Julian and Data collaborate to investigate an alien devise using the Enterprise's Equipment. Julian says inadvertently racist things to Data while gushing about how cool Data is. "I didn't think you'd be so personable" sounds a lot like "I didn't think you'd be so articulate." I do have to give them credit for not dropping the thread of people Othering Data, even though it makes me wince. he asks a lot of questions about how Data functions that conveniently provide in universe answers for why data breathes and has a pulse. An accident knocks him offline and he has a vision.

The other plot is Worf getting word his Father might be alive and captured by the Romulans from an alien on the station and having to come to terms with the dishonor. Worf's advise to data about his vision helps him decide to go look for his own Father. I always like the little Worf/Data scenes because of the way they are both partial outsiders in human culture and the ways they sometimes help each other navigate situations in which they are both unsure about something. Worf finds the shady guy and makes him take him to the prison camp instead of paying up front for dodging coordinates, which was the original offer.

Data goes to captain Picard, baffled by the large array of meanings for the same symbol across cultures. Picard calls him a "culture of one," which seems apt, and sends him off to thik about what the vision symbols mean to Data specifically. Data paints a large number of paintings based on the vision, starting with things he saw, but then he started painting things he imagined after. He wants to recreate the accident, risking his neural net in hopes of seeing more. This time it's different, and his Father tell him it's always different, and that he's started a "wonderful journey" and he's more than a collection of processes. Data can now dream and be creative. "Data, you are the bird." Data lets Julian write a paper on the incident.

Meanwhile the dodgy guy drops Worf off near the camp and says he'll be back in fifty hours. He finds a Klingon woman who insists she is "home." He follows the woman and a Romulan back to the village, where there is a Klingon ceremony going on, and grabs an elderly man who says Worf's father died at the massacre. Worf wants to rescue them; the old man goes to the elders. A man who remembers his father tells something he remembers of small Worf. They turn him over to the Romulans because "He would bring others."

The second episode starts with the Klingons explaining they'd been knocked unconscious. The Romulans wanted to trade them, but they were dishonored, so begged to stay and are now raising the next generation there, under Romulan rule, hiding from Klingon. The dishonor lasts three generations. Worf reveals his soft federation underbelly which grosses out the Elder Klingon. The children are raised so pacifist they are using weapons to till. ("And into plowshares turn their swords, Nations shall learn war no more.") The young ones all think there is still a war on; the Elders worry Worf will infect them with discontent. It turns out the Romulan gave up his carreer to guard the klingons which is the only way he could keep them alive. He married one of the Klingon women. I mulled this. Is is consensual if he is both guard and prisoner or is it still creepy? Worf makes an explosion so as to escape, but is caught. They put a tracking chip in Worf. Worf openly practices his forms, attracting youngsters who want to learn. The young woman sneaks him into her home to show him the old armour and a rusting weapons. He explains them to her. They get caught just as he's explaining a decoration that is given to a daughter who is of age, "old enough to mate." The Mother kicks him out. Soon he is telling youngsters tales of Kaliss. The boy who hates all of it still keeps turning up for things even though he complains. The young woman flirts with Worf and sort of makes a mood. Worf flips out on discovering her Romulan ears. He spouts racist stuff about her father the camp commander. He does turn up to apologize, but does it in a shitty way, which she calls him on it. He keeps arguing with the nay sayer youth, and pricks his pride to get him to try. Worf asks to the Romulan to let Worf and naysayer go on a hunt. Worf gives his word not to escape; the elder Klingon stands surety and tells the naysayer to kill Worf if he breaks his word. Worf is much better with Klingon youths here than he is with his own son, I notice. Hunting seems to awaken the kid's instincts. They return with dead things. The Romulan freaks out. The boy gets people singing the old hunting victory song.

The Romulan and Worf debate privately. The Romulan points out this is the only time and place in all of history where Klingons and Romulans live in peace. Worf's argument is basically that he had to take the klingon out of Klingons to due it and now that they are waking up again and have scented wild prey, they can't go back to being what the Romulan made them. The Romulan threatens to put Worf to death if he doesn't conform. Worf chooses death over the lifestyle of the prison camp. "The young people will see what it is to die a Klingon." The young woman tries to remove the tracking devise. Worf refuses to run to show them what i is to be Klingon. She plays the "You care for me card." Worf admits he loves her, but won't live this way. She points out that the prejudice against he means she can't come with him. He points out that he isn't accepted for himself there. They kiss and she storms out. The Romulan insists it is necessary to put Worf to death because he will destroy everything. Worf says he's really being executed for bringing knowledge. The Klingon lad comes out in full armour saying that if they are killing Worf they must kill him too, that many of them want to leave and the Romulans will have to kill them to keep them. The Romulan is going to execute them. A bunch of the others make a body shield. The young woman joins them. Her mother tells her husband, "This is our prion; it should not be theirs." Worf makes those leaving "honor" their parents by keeping their secret.

Meanwhile, Worf's friends have been looking for him. They get a message to come pick up the dissident Klingons. Worf lies they are survivors of a crash, that "no one survived Kitamer." Picard says, "I understand" in a way that suggests he understands perfectly well, and is going along with it.

I think this has been the most satisfying TNG arc I've seen so far. I works really well for both Data and Worf, and the Worf story line has a whole lot of depth and relevance. It helps him work through a lot of his baggage and define who he is a person much better than heretofore. It also reminds me of that time I sort of started a small scale resistance when I was fifteen, but that is another, private story. I wonder if Worf's parenting improves as a result of his experience. He certainly seems more calm and centered and he was really good with the young people.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

* Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to the representative of your choice.

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

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

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

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

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

* "Why are women accused of witchcraft? Study in rural China gives clue:" https://phys.org/news/2018-01-women-accused-witchcraft-rural-china.html

* "Tim Hortons franchise owners tell workers to blame Wynne for benefit cuts and to 'not vote Liberal':" http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/business/tim-hortons-minimum-wage-hike-ontario-government-1.4493436

* "New Zealand PM reveals she is pregnant:" http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-42741789

* "Racism Accusations Hang over Trump Presidency:"

( Embed: )

* "Tom Cotton, David Perdue, and the Trap of Lying for Donald Trump:" https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/tom-cotton-david-perdue-and-the-trap-of-lying-for-donald-trump

* "Migratory Birds Lose Protection Against Industry in Latest Trump Action Against Environmental Regulations:" https://www.ecowatch.com/migratory-bird-treaty-act-2520278975.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=fbe4bf398a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-fbe4bf398a-85920757

* Yes, it's tumblr, but it's a good rundown on what's going on with the Government Shutdown, CHIP, and DACA: http://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/169954416307/yourenotaloneinthis-pervocracy-cuyguy

* "First day of government shutdown ends in standoff:" https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-congress-shutdown/first-day-of-government-shutdown-ends-in-standoff-idUSKBN1F90DE

* "Republican congressman removed from ethics committee:" https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-congress-meehan/republican-congressman-removed-from-ethics-committee-idUSKBN1FA019?feedType=RSS&feedName=lifestyleMolt

* TW: Rape. Viola Davis' Woman's March speech: http://browngurlwfro.tumblr.com/post/169945296198/thepowerofblackwomen-when-i-raise-my-hand-i-am

* "Armed Federal Agents Enter Warehouse in Puerto Rico to Seize Hoarded Electric Equipment:" https://theintercept.com/2018/01/10/puerto-rico-electricity-prepa-hurricane-maria/

* "Native American family tree sprouts a new branch:" https://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2018/0109/Native-American-family-tree-sprouts-a-new-branch

* "Ancient Jew’s harps found in Altai Mountains as musical instruments reappear after 1,700 years:" http://siberiantimes.com/science/casestudy/news/ancient-jews-harps-found-in-altai-mountains-as-musical-instruments-reappear-after-1700-years/

* "Fossil DNA sheds light on origins of early Scandinavians:" http://cphpost.dk/news/fossil-dna-sheds-light-on-origins-of-early-scandinavians.html

* "Ancient Phoenician DNA from Sardinia, Lebanon reflects settlement, integration, mobility:" https://phys.org/news/2018-01-ancient-phoenician-dna-sardinia-lebanon.html

* "Royal palace ruins discovered in north China:" http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-01/08/c_136880481.htm

* "DNA analysis of mummy, thought to have smallpox, points to Hepatitis B instead:" https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180104153449.htm

* TW: Domestic Violence, Pedophilia. Sacajawea: Survivor. http://satyrday.tumblr.com/post/169789630591/llamajun-indigenous-rising-girljanitor#notes

* "Exotic animals and the hunt for gold:" https://phys.org/news/2018-01-exotic-animals-gold.html

* "Trump Wishes We Had More Immigrants From Norway. Turns Out We Once Did:" https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2018/01/12/577673191/trump-wishes-we-had-more-immigrants-from-norway-turns-out-we-once-did

* Henry Ford, Antisemitism, and Square Dancing. http://satyrday.tumblr.com/post/169673209361/semitics-dedalvs-shea-buttastic#notes

* "General Kelly: Trump's Wall Promises Were 'Not Fully Informed':"

( Embed: )

* "Starr Andrews Free Skate US Nationals:"

( Embed: )

* "Starr Andrews SP 2018 US Champs:"

( Embed: )

* "Fresh Prince - SNL:"

( Embed: )

* Impossible foods. My sense memory is really strong. This is why my method of choosing what food to make involves me flashing sense memories of various foods I have ingredients for until I hit on the "right" one. it also means that I'll remember a taste, smell, etc.. and then spend a ridiculous about of time trying to track it down to a context. I want THAT food, now what exactly is it? For the last couple weeks I've been wanting another Impossible food from a very specific shop in early '90's Corvallis. I've no idea if the shop is still there, nor a car able to carry me so far even if I had money and energy for such a journey. Still, over and over my mind thrusts the taste of this particular sandwich into moments between more serious thoughts: an impossible food, last shared with a lover now long dead in the company of friends I no longer have.

* "Sansa's Shithole Siblings Part 1: Family Disunion:" https://www.thefandomentals.com/winterhell-s7-retrospective-part-1/

* An interesting thing on Hux: http://lettersfromtitan.tumblr.com/post/169906910952/bomberqueen17-darthnickels-can-i-just-say-as#notes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

* Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to the representative of your choice.

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

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

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

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

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

* "Myanmar signs pact with Bangladesh over Rohingya repatriation:" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/23/myanmar-signs-pact-with-bangladesh-over-rohingya-repatriation

* I have been saying for decades that the only thing I want from the Eisenhower Era is the progressive tax rates. This is why.: http://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/167865307162/fandomsandfeminism-and-he-was-a-republican

* I am charmed by how appropriately cranky this is about nonsense claims while packing in a lot of information about what is and isn't known. "No 'lost tribes' or aliens: what ancient DNA reveals about American prehistory:" https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/nov/15/no-lost-tribes-or-aliens-what-ancient-dna-reveals-about-american-prehistory

* "800 years of settlement at Turquoise Bend, Kenai River, Alaska:" http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/11/2017/800-years-of-settlement-at-turquoise-bend-kenai-river-alaska

* I tried so hard today, but things did not work out. I pulled out the solstice boxes and the cat carrier before bed. I got out and got gas at a reasonable time. Started dinner. Sat down to do lungs and mess with the gift lights which turned into a whole Thing. did some phase three decorating. Attempted kitten proofing, but was interrupted by the oven timer. Went to do that. Plated up dinner. Was two bites in when the tree went over. I've put things back together and sorted out the kitten proofing for the big tree. The garland string I was gifted end of last string looks amazing draped in the window. The light strings I spent an hour on I can't make work. More ornaments are up. I have a box and a half of stuff to sort and deploy still.

I go on a long mission tomorrow to collect the gift cat. I'm excited for the cat, but a bit alarmed at making the trip in my elderly car. It is funny, this trip would have been nothing a decade ago, but the whole can't trust my car things makes it a Drama. Let us all hope the weather is clear and dry and that the wings aren't high. Let us hope the engine valve holds.

The computer situation remains annoying. I have to reboot 4-5 times a night and often lose work each time, but it's more bearable than it was. I've been using the time to launch Gothmas phase three, and have been making good progress. I really wish I had money to buy more hooks from the hardware store, as I'd feel better if I could add more anchors for things to the mantal, and i'd definitely feel better with more tether points for the large Gothmas tree, but that isn't likely to happen, as I'm down to the bone again. I'm having a weirdly hard time adjusting to how bright the gift garland makes the window. I like it, but it keeps startling me that I can see this well.

* A real Ukrainian Vampire: http://lettersfromtitan.tumblr.com/post/167850736986/epaulettes-prokopetz-prokopetz

* For the record, the Toni Morrison Cavetts are fascinating from and inter-sectional perspective.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

* Resistance links for the tax cuts for the rich: http://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/166977878817/fullhalalalchemist-the-gop-is-aiming-for-a-65vc

* Republicans are trying to kill library funding. Help us save the libraries. http://www.ala.org/advocacy/advleg/federallegislation/fight-for-libraries

* Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to the representative of your choice.

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

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

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

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

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

* "Court extends house arrest for Russian theater director:" http://www.nydailynews.com/newswires/entertainment/court-extends-house-arrest-russian-theater-director-article-1.3569692

* "Modern Amazons: The Egyptian Village Run by Women:" https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/10/03/modern-amazons-the-egyptian-village-run-by-women

* "Pitched as Calming Force, John Kelly Instead Mirrors Boss’s Priorities:" https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/25/us/politics/trump-kelly.html

* "Mayor of San Juan: Cancel $300 million Whitefish Energy contract:"

( Embed: )

* "Uranium One: Joy Reid debunks fake news targeting Clinton:"

( Embed: )

* Please vote. We can’t afford to let them keep winning. "Virginia governor race: Ed Gillespie using Trump approach?:"

( Embed: )

* "Mother says Dracut group home shaved daughter’s head without permission:" http://whdh.com/news/mother-says-dracut-group-home-shaved-daughters-head-without-permission/

* "A Canadian student leader faces discipline for Facebook post blasting ‘white fragility’:" https://news.vice.com/story/a-canadian-student-leader-faces-discipline-for-blasting-white-fragility?utm_source=vicetwitterca

* "Number 21- RIP Stephanie Montez:" http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2017/10/number-21-rip-stephanie-montez.html

* Dude!!! "Saber-toothed Cats May Have Co-Existed With Modern Humans:" https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/saber-toothed-cats-may-have-co-existed-modern-humans-180965349/

* "Older Neandertal survived with a little help from his friends:" https://phys.org/news/2017-10-older-neandertal-survived-friends.html

* "The Guanches originated from North Africa, shows DNA:" https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-10/su-tgo102617.php

* "A diminutive woman — and a spy who defined courage:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/a-diminutive-woman--and-a-spy-who-defined-courage/2017/08/29/963343a2-8ccb-11e7-91d5-ab4e4bb76a3a_story.html?tid=hybrid_collaborative_2_na&utm_term=.b71790377217

* A Playlist tale of Terror: http://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/166937092407

* "Z Nation, Season 4, Episode 5: The Unknowns:" http://www.fangsforthefantasy.com/2017/10/z-nation-season-4-episode-5-unknowns.html

* "Sunday TREATS: Halloween!:" http://www.cakewrecks.com/home/2017/10/29/sunday-treats-halloween.html

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

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

* Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to the representative of your choice.

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

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

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

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

* "Obama and Bush appear to address Trump rhetoric:"

( Embed: )

* "Rep. Wilson Speaks Out: 'Gen. Kelly Was A Puppet Of The President':" http://crooksandliars.com/2017/10/rep-wilson-speaks-out-gen-kelly-was-puppet

* "Nancy Pelosi on Gen. Kelly, Rep. Wilson and Niger:"

( Embed: )

* "Rep. Wilson responds to Gen. Kelly jabs after disputed call:"

( Embed: )

* "Trump judge nominee Thomas Farr defended voter ID law:"

( Embed: )

* Jesus Wept. "Sevier deputy suffered panic attack while armed, couple charged with causing it:" http://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/crime/2017/10/16/sevier-deputy-suffered-panic-attack-while-armed-couple-charged-causing/759465001/

* "A Brief History of Book Burning, From the Printing Press to Internet Archives:" https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/brief-history-book-burning-printing-press-internet-archives-180964697/

* "Satanist takes abortion rights case to the Missouri Supreme Court:" http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article177832426.html

* TW: Rape.

The Right keeps claiming that the Left and the Right are morally equivalent on the topic of rape. They are not. How can I tell? Republicans voted against The Violence Against Women Act on the grounds that it made it illegal for white men to rape Indigenous women. How can I tell? They keep arguing Date Rape is a fiction and trying to legalize various kinds of rape while Democrats think rape is a crime and defend the laws keeping it so. How can I tell? When Packwood's disgusting behavior was made public, we all vilified him and drummed him out of Congress, but Republicans responded to 45 going into changing rooms to ogle naked under age girls and him bragging about sexual assault on the Billy Bush tape by voting for him for President.

* "Bill O’Reilly: Sexual abuse allegations against men in media:"

( Embed: )

* "Racist, violent, unpunished: A white hate group’s campaign of menace:" https://www.propublica.org/article/white-hate-group-campaign-of-menace-rise-above-movement

* Louisiana Sheriff complains because they are taking his slaves away. "Louisiana Sheriff Wants ‘Good’ Prisoners To Stay Jailed For Their Free Labor:" https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/louisiana-sheriff-steve-prator-prisoners_us_59dfa0bee4b0fdad73b2cded

* "'Future generations will know what happened here': Tree memorial honours mosque shooting victims:" http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/u-s-consulate-tree-memorial-victims-mosque-shooting-1.4365829

* "A tsunami hit Britain in the 11th century due to an asteroid:" http://www.scotsman.com/news/a-tsunami-hit-britain-in-the-11th-century-due-to-an-asteroid-1-4555142

* "Lost Medieval Village Discovered With Aerial Laser Scanner:" https://www.archaeology.org/news/5884-170830-poland-goschwitz-village

* "The true story behind England’s tea obsession:" http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20170823-the-true-story-behind-englands-tea-obsession

* "DNA test proves woman not Dali's daughter:" http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-41180146

* "Tragically Hip singer Gord Downie has died at 53:" http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41669610

* TW: rape. "38 Years Old - Tragically Hip:"

( Embed: )

* Decorations by Night. http://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/166699220002/decorations-by-night

* "Z Nation, Season 4, Episode 3: The Vanishing:" http://www.fangsforthefantasy.com/2017/10/z-nation-season-4-episode-3-vanishing.html#more

* I really liked it and am intrigued, but I had the same major qualm about that thing that happened at almost the end. "Superstition, Season 1, Episode 1: Pilot:" http://www.fangsforthefantasy.com/2017/10/superstition-season-1-episode-1-pilot.html

* "Sunday Sweets: Tim Burton Treats!:" http://www.cakewrecks.com/home/2017/10/22/sunday-sweets-tim-burton-treats.html

* "Grand Unified Keanu Theory:" http://butlerbookbinding.tumblr.com/post/166692542029/caeric-arclight-gailsimones-grand-unified

* Lesbian Beauty and the Beast: https://thewightknight.tumblr.com/post/166658155223/the-knights-who-say-book-once-upon-a-time-there

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

* Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to the representative of your choice.

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

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

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

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

* 45 fails at even the simplest bare minimum bits of Presidenting, as well as empathy. "After an earthquake and a hurricane — and Trump's failure to send condolences — Mexico rescinds offer of aid to U.S.:" http://www.latimes.com/world/mexico-americas/la-fg-mexico-aid-20170911-story.html

* "Exclusive: Russia Used Facebook Events to Organize Anti-Immigrant Rallies on U.S. Soil:" http://www.thedailybeast.com/exclusive-russia-used-facebook-events-to-organize-anti-immigrant-rallies-on-us-soil

* "Russian politician: US intel slept as Russia elected US president:"

( Embed: )

* "Russia scoops US media on Trump White House meeting, again:"

( Embed: )

* "Russia planned for ‘broad reset’ under Trump: report:"

( Embed: )

* "Trump exposed for lie about sketchy business partner, Russia deal:"

( Embed: )

* "Cover-ups, excuses, denials swamp Trump camp on Russia contacts:"

( Embed: )

* "New Hampshire Democrat defends role on Trump voting commission:" https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-vote/new-hampshire-democrat-defends-role-on-trump-voting-commission-idUSKCN1BN130

* "The voter fraud lies keep coming from the Trump admin.:"

( Embed: )

* "FL GOPer laughs at EPA chief saying not time to talk climate:"

( Embed: )

* I do not care about which politicians view porn. I assume most of them at one time or another. The only time I care is if it is child pornography or the person is say, showing it to children, or viewing it somewhere it's imposing on other people. (I had a job one summer in an electronics store where the salesmen were frequently group watching porn in the back and would yell if I had to interrupt them to come sell a TV or whatever, and i had to eat lunch in a breakroom with all those breasts and vaginas staring at me, all of which I resented. I would have given no fucks if their homes were plastered with porn magazines and if they were jerking off at home, but I felt I shouldn't have to deal with it in a work environment, and I also felt if I had to work, so should they, and I especially shouldn't get yelled at for trying to get one of them to serve customers for the things I wasn’t allowed to sell them. WTF did they want me to tell the family wanting a new TV? Perhaps, "Sorry, all the salesmen are jerking off right now, so you'll have to wait until somebody cums?" Unless you work somewhere selling porn or live sex shows or the like, I feel like you shouldn't be required to watch other people masturbate. So no porn on the library computers where everyone is involved whether they want to be or not or on the computer at the Middle School, or... you get the idea). That's not the case here as far as I can tell. I do not like the man in question and find his politics disgusting, but he hasn't done anything wrong and I strongly disapprove of sex shaming people over private, consensual acts. Whatever he might or might not have done while watching that video is none of my business. I do not care either way, and I resent having to hear about it, particularly from supposedly leftish type people who very likely have looked at porn themselves. It's gross and hypocritical. Odds are this is the last mention I'm going to make about this particular instance, unless it turns out he was making interns watch him jerk it or something. Then, I care, but not for this.

* "Undocumented workers will help rebuild after hurricanes:"

( Embed: )

* "Supreme Court justice temporarily preserves Trump refugee ban:" http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-immigration/supreme-court-justice-temporarily-preserves-trump-refugee-ban-idUSKCN1BM24Q

* "Gay Rights Pioneer Edith Windsor Dies at 88:" https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/gay-rights-pioneer-edith-windsor-dies-88-n800796

* "Senators unveil plan to block transgender ban:" http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/11/politics/senate-transgender-trump-military/index.html

Please call or turn up in person to tell your Congress Critters you support the Amendment. Alternately:
This App phones your rep for you: http://takeastance.us/
Here is one that will send your reps a fax: https://resistbot.io/

* Please, please vote yes, Australia. Don't let these horrible people win with their lies. TW: Homophobic Hate speech. "Homophobia hits home: readers expose ugly side of same-sex marriage campaign:" https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/sep/13/homophobia-hits-home-readers-expose-ugly-side-of-same-sex-marriage-campaign

* "Shapely Czech Venus reveals secrets:" http://www.radio.cz/en/section/curraffrs/shapely-czech-venus-reveals-secrets

* "DNA proves fearsome Viking warrior was a woman:" http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/09/dna-proves-fearsome-viking-warrior-was-woman

* "Russian archaeological find solves 13th-century mystery:" https://phys.org/news/2017-08-russian-archaeological-13th-century-mystery.html

* "220-Year-Old Refugee Camp Found Near Galway:" https://www.archaeology.org/news/5858-170821-galway-linen-refugee-camp

* "Steve Bannon Confirms Everyone's Worst Suspicions About Him on "60 Minutes":"

( Embed: )

* "Equifax Tries Not to Get Sued After a Massive Data Breach:"

( Embed: )

* "President Trump: America's S**ttiest Miss America Contestant :"

( Embed: )

* "Circus 1903:"

( Embed: )

* I was really irritated with myself for being foggy, slow, and headachey today, but then I remembered, oh right, I didn't just use all the spoons by bedtime yesterday, I also spent three hours coughing in the wee hours (likely the pneumococcal vaccine), and my body is also still dealing with the influenza jab. Given the givens, I'm actually doing remarkably well. I did wake up with the lungs clearing, so I have hopes of getting past things in the usual week. Again, these are temporary physical conveniences and well worth it given the consequences of NOT doing it.

* What the world needs now is more Sam Vimes.

* I just caught two parts of the Richard Burton three (?) part Cavett interview that blew me away as a child, which lead to my life long interest in him and his work. It means so much more now, given how much more I know, about Wales, and mines, and class struggle, and his personal context. Charm stretched over fragility, humor over pain. Damn.

* Want to donate to my property taxes? (170$ Needed). Paypal Lethran@gmail.com

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

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

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

* How to help Flood victims in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh: http://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/165235609582/woke-up-on-derse-f-f-f-fight

* How to help Caribbean victims of Irma: http://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/165240981876/hedaclara-hedaclara-hedaclara-guys-the

* "How to Help Hurricane Harvey Victims:" http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/27/how_to_help_hurricane_harvey_victims.html

* "Disaster Relief and Support for Libraries:" http://www.txla.org/news/2017/08/disaster-relief-and-support-for-libraries

* How to help the protesters and ordinary people in Venezuela: https://thewynne.tumblr.com/post/163738805241/softestjohn-fiftyeightminutes-softestjohn

* "Ten Ways to Fight Hate: A Community Response Guide:" https://www.splcenter.org/20170814/ten-ways-fight-hate-community-response-guide

* A list of links to Charlottesville charities if you want to give the NAZIs a financial fuck you: https://twitter.com/SaraJBenincasa/status/896260623905861633

* How white Protesters can weaponize their whiteness: http://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/164390645622/alvaroarbeloa-vaspider-okay-friends-lets

* List of places to donate to help trans service members and fight the planned attack on active duty trans soldiers: https://vaspider.tumblr.com/post/163475550346/moonbian-hey-i-know-reblogging-posts-about-how

* Red Cross is taking donations for Western Wildfire Relief: http://www.redcross.org/local/oregon/ways-to-donate/wildfires

* (This is here as a reminder to me for later). "Can you recommend me some good books, essays, etc. about witches, witchcraft, witch trials in England?:" https://laughingacademy.tumblr.com/post/164664427028/dear-pauline-can-you-recommend-me-some-good

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

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

* "Police Brutality: Black Man Beaten To Death By Cops:" https://blackmattersus.com/16591-awful-police-brutality-black-man-calls-police-for-help-got-beaten-to-death/

* "Racism In American Schools: Video Shows White Kids Chant “N-Word” On School Bus:" https://blackmattersus.com/16579-racism-in-american-schools-video-shows-white-kids-chant-n-word-on-school-bus/

* "Not All Transgender People Have Dysphoria – And Here Are 6 Reasons Why That Matters:" http://everydayfeminism.com/2015/08/not-all-trans-folks-dysphoria/

* "DNA in London Grave May Help Solve Mysteries of the Great Plague:" http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/09/bubonic-plague-dna-found-london-black-death/

* "Deep in the Swamps, Archaeologists Are Finding How Fugitive Slaves Kept Their Freedom:" http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/deep-swamps-archaeologists-fugitive-slaves-kept-freedom-180960122/?no-ist

* "Sunday Sweets: Flights of Fancy:" http://www.cakewrecks.com/home/2016/9/25/sunday-sweets-flights-of-fancy.html

* TNG 4 Rewatch:

- Final Mission. The toxic waste ship is also all to relevant to my great distress. I am pretty sure radiation exposure sickness doesn't work that way. Wil Wheaton Acting the shit out of this one.

- The Loss. I have always said Deanna is not a good counselor. she leans on her power to cover other deficiencies. While Riker saying what he said when he said it is assholish, he's not wrong. There is a lot to unpack here around the disability metaphor, but I'm frankly to tired to attempt it.

- Data's Day. His subroutines for dealing with common human emotional responses reminds me of me and my attempts to deal with other people who feel jealousy. I so sympathize with Worf on the human wedding thing. I do think this is another episode that has relevance to neurodivergance, in that it has relevance to difficulty reading emotional content in other people and predicting how they will react emotionally. I also do love an unreliable narrator. That tap dancing! I've taught people waltz and swing informally, and while steps themselves are easy to explain, I always struggled with explaining the signalling and the way of moving. I picked it all up instinctively and had no way to explain to someone who couldn't pick those things up through example and imitation. I'd occasionally come across someone so stiff that dancing with them hurt. this scene seemed pretty realistic to me. Here begins the Romulan sleeper agent arc, though there was some previous foreshadowing.

- The Wounded. The Cardassians are introduced. I have always disliked O'Brian and Keiko. The Apocalypse Now episode. I really like the ambiguity here. This is another episode that addresses war time trauma and difficulty adjusting to peace after.

- Devil's Due. Classic Debunking.

- Clues. This is a good little mystery.

- First contact. Alien groupies.... She just coerced Riker into sex, didn't she? Why doesn't Starfleet Print or DNA lock phasers? Why are nearly all the aliens races (except Klingons and that one horrible racial stereotype of a culture season one?) and colonists they meet played by white actors?

- Galaxy Child. Famous last words, Jordi, famous last words. This is so that thing most men do in my experience, where the guy makes this whole fantasy image of who a certain person is and how the story will unfold from there without, you know, checking who the person is and what they want first. Guinan really is calling this one accurately. I don't blame her for being grossed out. It as creepy as fuck. Jordi's "guilty of wanting to be your friend" thing is so classic nice guy syndrome.

- Night Terrors. An allergy to certain sedatives runs in my family. It causes extreme agitation, paranoia, and full spectrum hallucinations/break with reality in those it effects. That scene in the turbo lift with Picard? That was my Grandfather on haldol when he was dying. It is unnerving to watch. Picard speaking of his Grandfather's dementia? *shudder* to real.

******

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

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

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

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

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

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

* Want Game of Thrones without the creepy? We desperately need new players. We are very inclusive. "Game of Bones MUSH:" gobmush.wikidot.comhttp://www.cnn.com/2016/07/28/asia/indonesia-drug-executions/

* "Sri Lanka: five steps to vaccine success:" http://www.vaccineswork.org/post/133290012222/sri-lanka-five-steps-to-vaccine-success

* At least 34 people in one attack and 15 in another (with two bombers) are dead in Nigeria. Boka Haram, being cowards, has been turning little girls into suicide bombers, likely the ones they've been kidnapping, though it's not proved yet. Boko Haram has killed more civilians than any terrorist group, including ISIS.

* So a pretty alarming thing just happened in Mali. I'm going to give you a little background first. There's been long running trouble between the people in the North of Mali and the government in the South. Over time, people who got exiled or were wanted by the government, particularly Tariq people went north across the Algerian desert to Libya, where many of the men signed up to serve in the military. Remember that tank convoy and various military transports spotted going South during the overthrow of Kadafi? Those were deserters taking weapons an vehicles back to Mali, where they formed the core of a Tariq separatist uprising in northern Mali. The more secular wing of the uprising quickly got overwhelmed by the religious extremist wing and it became one of those monstrous extremist nightmares that goes around destroying cultural treasures, burning books, killing moderate Muslims, etc.. Some of you will remember the heroic efforts of the people of Timbuktu to hide and smuggle out irreplaceable and unique early Islamic manuscripts.

Mali's government wasn't up to a challenge of this magnitude and French and Pan-African forces have been helping them fight. The pro-government forces have been doing well. The French being there is a thing that is politically complicated because of their history of colonialism in Mali, which I'm not going to get into in depth, but their plan to pull out in the near future was a bit of a relief to pretty much everyone in the region, who given many of the neighboring countries' history with colonialism and French colonialism in particular, is not surprising.

At 7AM local time (my last night), the extremists took a large hotel frequented by international travelers hostage. Government forces with help from french special forces were taking it back floor by floor when I went to bed. It is thought they had over a hundred hostages at one point. Reports continue to be a bit chaotic and contradictory. It is thought the attackers are dead. It is thought approximately 20 hostages were killed. The French withdraw has been cancelled.

* The UN approved a resolution calling on the world to unite against Islamic State.

* "Texas Women Are Inducing Their Own Abortions:" http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/11/texas-self-abort/416229/

* A response to the complaint "women don’t know how much rejection hurts:" http://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/133523850002/inkskinned-women-dont-know-how-much-rejection

* Trump is calling for a Nazi-style mandatory National registry of Muslims with required religion specific identification they and only they would have to carry. O.o For pretty fucking obvious reasons, the Anti-Defamation League and several other Jewish groups are condemning this Trump policy.

* "More Universities Move To Include Gender-Neutral Pronouns:" http://www.npr.org/2015/11/08/455202525/more-universities-move-to-include-gender-neutral-pronouns

* Misleading headline alert. It's about adding genetic data to linguistic and archaeological data to try to figure out where the Indo-European language group likely originates. "DNA reveals the origins of modern Europeans:" http://phys.org/news/2015-03-dna-reveals-modern-europeans.html

* "How did the chicken cross the sea?:" http://phys.org/news/2015-03-chicken-sea.html

* In which I talk about the Wycliffe Bible and the backlash in the notes. "Society despairs of the Modern Woman, 1915 style:" http://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/133587535367/questionableadvice-progress-1915

* "Victorian Nipple Rings:" https://www.bodyartforms.com/blog/victorian-nipple-rings-part-one/

* "The schoolboy sailors who died at Gallipoli:" http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-31712158

* "Ponds and their toads cured of dreaded disease:" https://www.sciencenews.org/article/ponds-and-their-toads-cured-dreaded-disease?tgt=nr

* "Tragedy in Paris: The Three Stages of Political Grief:"

( Embed: )

* "Hey, Huddled Masses: Get Lost:"

( Embed: )

* "Sesame Street: Game of Chairs (Game of Thrones Parody):"

( Embed: )

* My scheduled thing got moved, so today was supposed to be a bureaucracy day, but Hector wouldn't stop hurting me when I was sleeping so I couldn't do it. He's pretty manicky today just generally but I got him to eat, so i attempted some experimental baking even though he was way too interested in what was going on. I put the experimental pie in the oven, cleaned up, and went to write up events in Africa. He WOULD NOT leave things in the kitchen alone. I kept having to go in there to do things like fish him out of the trash can. He knew I was making a bread smell in there and he wanted whatever I was making RIGHT NOW! He eventually flung a glass flour canister off a shelf, managing to break one of my Great grandmother's plates in the process. Glass everywhere. It's likely too damaged to glue together and I'm not up to trying tonight.

I want to make clear, I am not feeding this cat pie, but that doesn’t stop him throwing a tantrum on the off chance.

* I watched The Hollow Crown: Henry IV pt. 1. The Henry IV's are amoung my least favorite Shakespeare plays, but I was promised Hiddleston and they did such a brilliant job with the very difficult to do well Richard II, that I gave it a try. I am not sorry. My fundamental problem with IV pt.1 I it is full of pointless cruelty with a particularly nasty clsss based underpinning all framed as if it is funny. It's not something I find funny. Seriously, that thing where they torment the pot boy, who's poverty is extreme by offering him a huge sum of money then making him say anon... Incredibly, pointlessly cruel.

I think one of the reasons this adaptations works for me is that the people making it clearly get how appalling this is. Most Shakespeare adaptations re so full of reverence for the Author, that there is a portentousness and exaggeration to the acting. There is so often an air of trying a little too hard about the comedic bits and it's a little too easy to overact the dramatic bits. This production treats the dialog like dialog, if that makes sense. They speak the lines as if they were modern instead of as if they were poetry. This makes a huge difference in the feel of the thing.

What Hiddleston does with Prince Hal is kind of brilliant. Hiddleston's charisma really helps, but the genius is in the way he plays the horrible pranks. It's rather like the "Loki'd" short he did a few years ago. He plays his Hal a little bit dorky, as a likable, but awkward doofus who isn't quite sure how far is too far and keeps trying anyway to be the class clown so that the cool kids will like him. He plays his Hal in such a way that it's clear the jokes don't quite work because they are sort of childish and aweful and nearly always a little too much. The result is that instead of a callous brute, you get a significantly more subtle character study of a rich kid trying too hard to fit in with a rough crowd.

The performance also really invites you to think about what his childhood and relationship to his father must be for him to run around behaving like this. The little playlet section is pivotal for this. When Falstaff plays the King, he is playing A King. When Hiddleston's Hal plays the King, he is very distinctly playing Jeemy Irons playing Henry IV. It is unnerving and uncomfortable but it really sucks you into the psychology of it. The scene goes from a mocking jest to ouch rather quickly as a result, which is perfect.

There are lots of clever little moments in the acting all over the cast like that. Hotspur's much put upon wife repeatedly punching his arm in exasperation under witch there is an obvious affection. Little moments where Fallstaff's expression suggests that under the bluster there is both self awareness and a deep vulnerability. The moment where Hal and his brother simultaneously realize their father is mortal in an imminent rather than abstract sense.

Look, I'm never going to like watching either Henry IV, but this was riveting and the performances are brilliant, even though the battle scene suffered rather from budgettary limits. This interpretation really works for me in a way that no other version I've ever seen did. (Yes, that includes My Own Private Idaho. I love all the Rent Boy bits in it, but the explicitly Henry IV parts are excruciating, and I mostly skip those when I watch so as to get back to River Phoenix). This is the Henry IV made for people who don't like Henry IV. I am excite to see if they can manage to make pt. 2 interesting which would pretty much be a miracle).

* Mad Max is Not the hero: http://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/133584243892/potofsoup-bookshop

* A good criticism of the star trek reboot: http://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/133527809982/well-heres-the-thing-that-i-try-to-explain-to

* Marina Sirtis, Sexism, and TNG: http://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/133516791352/webgeekist-colonel-kira-nerys

* "Photographer Unearths Vivid Images From 1980s NYC:" http://gothamist.com/2015/11/05/revisit_1980s_nyc.php

* I want the real Sam back. "Book 2 vs. Season 2: Sam Tarly’s Love Life:" http://turtle-paced.tumblr.com/post/133395490597/book-2-vs-season-2-sam-tarlys-love-life

* Story Dragon Store: http://thestorydragon.com/?product_cat=owens-art

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

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

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

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

* It's nice to see someone sharing my skepticism. "ISIS liars lack credibility on hostage death:"

( Embed: )

* What a shitty human being. "Christian Missionary Disappointed That Africa Isn’t the Hellhole She Was Hoping For:" http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2015/02/04/christian-missionary-disappointed-that-africa-isnt-the-hellhole-she-was-hoping-for/

* "Federal criminal probe of Chris Christie not definite:"

( Embed: )

* "Analyses of glass beads found in Denmark give us new knowledge of Bronze Age trade routes.:" http://sciencenordic.com/danish-bronze-age-glass-beads-traced-egypt

* "Viking families traveled together, research shows:" http://phys.org/news/2014-12-viking-families.html

* They are doing a big DNA study of Inuit Greenlanders to find out if there was paleo-Greenlander and/or Scandanavian admixture. Unfortunately, there is weird racism in the popular press versions I saw, so I'm going to wait for results to link. It'll be a really useful bit of data, given the controversies over Greenland's history, so I thought I'd mention it anyway.

* "Les Measlesrables:"

( Embed: )

* "Mr. Unclean:"

( Embed: )

* "Amender's Game & Southern Slam:"

( Embed: )


* "Adventures in Previously Routine Military Bookkeeping & Bassist's Instinct:"

( Embed: )

* Grim: I hate the trope where a woman gets power and instead of embracing it and learning to use it like every male character ever, immediately wants to get rid of it so she can just be normal. Fuck you, Grimm!

* I really fucked up this month. The fundamental problem is that I need about a hundred dollars to life on after essential bills are paid. (Most of this is food/litter for cats and meds for me.) Instead I start out about negative $30.00, and there is nothing to cut. So I'm already going to not pay all of a bill, thus falling behind and owing fees because I can't not feed the cats, change litter, and take lung meds in particular. Then I fucked up twice. 1. I miscounted cat food so had to dip into car insurance money. I was supposed to pay a bill off the credit card I just paid, only fucked up with online payment and it came out of the bank account. There goes the whole car insurance payment. Plus my car renewal came and there is no money for it. So now I'm about $150.00 negative for the month, and it's only getting worse, since the car insurance will auto-withdraw, meaning escalating overdraw fees, plus Hector will need more food and i will need more meds at some point. I need to throw together an ebay and hope it will cover postage plus car insurance at least. Gah! (This is the difference between the $265.00 rent a month and the $486.00 they surprised me with without telling me of the change. It seems a small difference, but it was literally a matter of survival to me. We can't save anything for the tax payments either, but that's a whole separate panic.).

Lest you think I am extravagant, remember SSI is $695.00 a month, an amount Republicans insist is "lavish."

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

* MrBumblepants found. This is better in every possible way. "Listen: The Ebola song that isn’t ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’:" http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/11/17/listen-the-ebola-song-that-isnt-do-they-know-its-christmas/

* MrBumblepants found. "Abortion protester harassed worker:" http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-30116191

* "Melon melange sorted out:" http://phys.org/news/2014-11-melon-melange.html

* "Archaeological site from Peking Man era unearthed in NE China:" http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2014-11/15/c_133792119.htm

* "Ancient DNA shows earliest European genomes weathered the ice age, and shines new light on Neanderthal interbreeding and a mystery human lineage:" http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/ancient-dna-shows-earliest-european-genomes-weathered-the-ice-age-and-shines-new-light-on

* "22 Shocking Statistics That Change How You See the World:" http://www.cracked.com/photoplasty_1170_22-shocking-statistics-that-change-how-you-see-world/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=fanpage&utm_campaign=new+article&wa_ibsrc=fanpage

* "Our culture dehumanises women by reducing them all to breeders and non-breeders:" http://www.newstatesman.com/glosswitch/2014/09/our-culture-dehumanises-women-reducing-them-all-breeders-and-non-breeders

* Standing up to misogyny. "Adrienne Truscott: the day I lost my job for Linda McCartney:" http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2014/nov/19/adrienne-truscott-the-day-i-lost-my-job-for-linda-mccartney

* "Transgender Pioneer Leslie Feinberg of Stone Butch Blues Has Died:" http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/books/2014/11/17/transgender-pioneer-leslie-feinberg-stone-butch-blues-has-died

* "Anti-Gay Pastor: Sodomite Semen Seasons Starbucks Selections:" http://crooksandliars.com/2014/11/anti-gay-pastor-sodomite-semen-seasons

* "New York's Largest Jail To Open Housing Unit For Transgender Women:" http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/18/rikers-transgender-women_n_6181552.html

* Ebay: BPAL: FOOTWORN STEPS LEADING INTO A DANK, SUFFOCATING CRYPT 2013 ATMOSPHERESPRAY: http://www.ebay.ph/itm/301397632159?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

* The Financial Situation continues Scary: http://www.gofundme.com/cuovws