Nec Hoc Nec Ilud

* "Protests break out in India after two women enter temple:" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/02/indian-women-form-620km-human-chain-in-support-of-lifting-of-temple-ban

* "Congo cuts internet for second day to avert 'chaos' before poll...:" https://www.reuters.com/article/us-congo-election/congo-cuts-internet-for-second-day-to-avert-chaos-before-poll-results-idUSKCN1OV1GL

* "AP Investigation: Food Aid Stolen as Yemen Starves:" https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2018/12/31/world/middleeast/ap-ml-yemen-stolen-aid.html

* "Meet Putin’s American Prisoner, Paul Whelan:" https://www.thedailybeast.com/meet-putins-american-prisoner-paul-whelan

* "Afghanistan's neighbors fear refugee crisis if U.S. pulls out:" https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-afghanistan-people/afghanistans-neighbors-fear-refugee-crisis-if-u-s-pulls-out-idUSKCN1OV1E4

* "Warren: Endless war in Syria, Afghanistan is not working:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/warren-endless-war-in-syria-afghanistan-is-not-working-1418445891818

* "Former U.S. commander calls Trump dishonest and immoral:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/former-us-commander-calls-trump-dishonest-and-immoral/2018/12/30/97fb6e5c-0c41-11e9-8938-5898adc28fa2_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.3f2e25d82ad0

* "Trump goes after retired Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal for 'big, dumb mouth':" https://abcnews.go.com/beta-story-container/Politics/trump-retired-army-gen-stanley-mcchrystal-big-dumb/story?id=60106026

* "Trump to Allow Months for Troop Withdrawal in Syria, Officials Say:" https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/31/us/politics/trump-troop-withdrawal-syria-months.html

* "Mitt Romney: The president shapes the public character of the nation. Trump’s character falls short.:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/mitt-romney-the-president-shapes-the-public-character-of-the-nation-trumps-character-falls-short/2019/01/01/37a3c8c2-0d1a-11e9-8938-5898adc28fa2_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.396a85c27d58

* "A year of unprecedented deception: Trump averaged 15 false claims a day in 2018:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/12/30/year-unprecedented-deception-trump-averaged-false-claims-day/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.839a2d22f7d2

* "Warren: Corruption makes Trump 'an accelerant' of inequality:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/warren-corruption-makes-trump-an-accelerant-of-inequality-1418445891791

* "New Jersey AG has obtained evidence of possible crimes at Trump's golf club — and Mueller, FBI are involved in probe - NY Daily News:" https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ny-pol-fbi-ag-evidence-crimes-trump-golf-20181228-story.html

* "Paul Manafort pressured by Russians to pay back debt while Trump's campaign chair, Time magazine says:" https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/29/politics/russian-former-spy-paul-manafort-trump-campaign/index.html

* "America, Meet Your (Acting) Secretary of Defense:" https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2019/01/acting-defense-secretary-shanahan-boeing-experience-trump/579232/

* "Frederica Wilson Takes Shot at John Kelly on His Way out the Door: ‘Good Riddance’:" https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/rep-frederica-wilson-celebrates-john-kellys-last-day-in-the-white-house-good-riddance

"Kelly’s claim inflamed supporters of the president. Wilson became the target of death threats, including racist threats of lynching and nooses through the mail. The threats became so severe that she could not cast votes.

A video of the event eventually proved Kelly’s claim to be false. Still, he has stood by his comments and ignored calls for him to apologize to Wilson.

“When he lied about me from the podium in the White House briefing room, he lied to the American people,” Wilson said in her statement. “He turned my efforts to support my Gold Star family into a firestorm of lies and insults that no sitting member of Congress should ever have to endure.”"

* "Elizabeth Warren: 'No to the billionaires' funding politics:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/elizabeth-warren-no-to-the-billionaires-funding-politics-1418444867672

* "Inslee on his top priority for presidential run: climate:" http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/inslee-on-his-top-priority-for-presidential-run-climate-1418396227563

* "How to End Government Shutdowns, Forever:" https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/01/how-end-government-shutdowns/579331/

* "‘Nothing short of inhumane’: Union sues Trump administration over shutdown:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/01/02/federal-work-force-shouldnt-be-used-pawn-union-sues-trump-administration-over-shutdown/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.411e1e48b18b

* " Trump claims there’s a 10-foot wall around the Obamas’ D.C. home. He is wrong. :" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/12/31/trump-claims-theres-foot-wall-around-obamas-dc-home-neighbors-say-theres-not/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.fe95a12adb3b

* "Trump invites congressional leaders to White House for border security briefing
Congress to reconvene with no border funding compromise in sight:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-tells-america-to-chill-out-and-enjoy-the-ride-in-2019/2019/01/01/20c52266-0de9-11e9-831f-3aa2c2be4cbd_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.d797952e54de

* Why is it working people are always being asked to sacrifice when the rich keep giving bigger and bigger tax cuts? Also, the republicans are on the side of a bigger deficit to build the wall a majority of Americans don't want and the Democrats are not caving, so why is this framed as shutting down the government to reduce the national debt? It's not. It's about ego and xenophobia and the inability of Republican congress critters to keep their word or do their job?. "National parks left to rot during government shutdown: 'I hope Congress is working hard ... so we can have our parks back':" https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2019/01/02/federal-government-shutdown-leaves-stink-national-parks/2468611002/

* "When he broke his leg at a National Park, strangers had to carry him to safety because of the government shutdown:" https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/02/us/big-bend-injury-shutdown/index.html

* "‘I had no idea how beautiful the border is’: Beto O’Rourke solicits photos of habitats at risk from Trump’s wall:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2018/12/21/i-had-no-idea-how-beautiful-border-is-beto-orourke-solicits-photos-habitats-risk-trumps-wall/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.ed77ece35830

* "Here are all the mundane activities for which police were called on African-Americans this year:" https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/20/us/living-while-black-police-calls-trnd/index.html

* "Prison Food Is Making U.S. Inmates Disproportionately Sick:" https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/12/prison-food-sickness-america/549179/

* "Whatever Happened To Those Girls Who Signed "Purity Pledges"? Hint: It's Not Good:" https://bust.com/sex/194437-the-purity-problem.html

* "A Woman’s Rights:" https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/12/28/opinion/pregnancy-women-pro-life-abortion.html

* "How the world got better in 2018, in 15 charts:" https://qz.com/1506764/ways-the-world-improved-in-2018-in-charts/

* "The Landlord Asks for a Christmas Rose:" https://daily.jstor.org/the-landlord-asks-for-a-christmas-rose/

* "It's Time to Teach American Drivers the 'Dutch Reach':" https://www.citylab.com/transportation/2018/12/dutch-reach-bicycle-car-door-driver-education-traffic-safety/577975/

* The true spirit of Gothmas "This Woman’s Fight With Her Neighbor Over Her Christmas Dragons Is Beautifully Petty:" https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ellievhall/christmas-dragon-display-neighbor-complaint

* The most charming online reaction to the Parade I saw this year was a theater professional watching their first parade and having their mind blown that thousands of oridrny amateurs with day jobs put this thing together afresh every year. they wanted to know if it was possible to join. Yes, yes, it is. :)

* "Mummers 2019 Fancy Brigade 12 Downtowners:"

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* "Mummers 2019 Fancy Brigade 01 Satin Slipper:"

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* "Mummers 2019 Fancy Brigade 04 Vikings:"

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* "Mummers 2019 Fancy Brigade 07 Purple Magic:"

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* "Mummers 2019 Fancy Brigade 11 Jokers:"

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* Remember they are pulling or carrying these floats by hand the whole parade rout themselves without help and periodically stopping to dance the who way. Some of the back pieces get up to 75+ pounds and the frames are even heavier. Think about that when you see the high School Girls doing the acrobatics. They dragged that here, did that routine and are dragging it the whole rest of the parade route. BAMF. "Mummers 2019 Fancy Division:"

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* TNG: Season 7 Rewatch:

- 7.6 Phantasms. Data has his first nightmare (fun in engineering, men dismantling a conduit and Data). It was engineering related and thus more plot connected than it looks as they are futzing about with the warp core and his subconscious is trying to warn him. Geordi is trying to keep Ensign Tyler and her crush at bay. Data and Geordie discuss nightmares and crushes. Geordi stops data interfering. Picard has a ceremonial thing he doesn't wasnt to do, but the warp engine is messed up so they are becalmed. Deanna turns up to check in with Data on the nightmares and explains part of him is "trying to express itself through the dream state."

Data decides to dream again. This time he's in Ten Forward. Worf is eating a "cellular peptide" cake. Crusher is sucking blood out of Riker's head or the like. Riker tells him to answer "That Damned ringing." The Workmen surround a Deanna cake, which he cuts despite her pleas. Data over sleeps, which is impossible, so he knows something is wrong. Data consults Freud in the holodeck and he's is realistically useless. Seriously why is data consulting Frued when literally any other historical shrink is available and he could get one closer to his time who isn't horrible? The Admiral thinks Picard is shirking. Meanwhile Geordi hands Data a brace from his dream. He slips back into a dream state; Riker tells him to "answer it"; there is a phone in Data's chest and Freud tells him "You must kill them all before it's too late."

Deanna wants him to start counseling and asks him to shut down the dream program 'til next session. Now the Impulse engines are down. The Admiral is pressuring Picard, who is hovering. Data wanders off. Deana is jumpy; Data comes after her with the brace. Worf is complaining the jazz Riker gave Alexander when they come upon data and stabbed Deanna. Data is sensibly confined to his quarters because Duh. Deanna has a rash where data stabbed and there is weird radiation. Data give Spot to Worf and explains cat directions. Worf is allergic.

They are infected with something making their cells degrade. It all fits the dream imagery. The infections match the dream in location; they extract cellular peptides. They are all going to die if they don't solve it. They hook Data up to the holodeck so Picard and Geordi can enter his dreams. Data is cutting Deanna who is the cellular peptide cake. Riker's still complainig about the ringing phone in Data's chest. It's for Picard. Sigmund frued, data's unconscious, tells them to "Kill them before it's too late." The workmen start shooting to shut the unconscious up. The workmen attack the new conduit and are clearly the organism. Data makes a weird shrieking noise that hurts them. Data wakes up and has Geordi adjust him to kill the organisms with a high frequency pulse. The new part they installed was infested. Picard will miss the banquet while they make a new part. Deanna makes data a Data cake. "Sometimes a cake is just a cake.

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

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

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

* "Trump’s New Wall to Keep Out the Disabled:" https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/29/opinion/trumps-disability-public-charge.html

They are soliciting public comment on these draconian regulations until December 10th here: https://www.regulations.gov/comment?D=USCIS-2010-0012-0001

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

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

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

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

* Have something you want to tell your Congress Critters? If you can not protest in person, here are some other options:
Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to the representative of your choice.

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

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

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

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

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

* Remember when Senator Kyl lied about Planned Parenthood on the floor of congress a while back, claiming that "well over 90%" of what Planned Parenthood did was abortion, when it's only 3%? Well, Orin Hatch stated that 95% of what Planned Parenthood does is abortion instead of three percent. Sorry, Math just isn't that hard. Both men said that the statistics they stated as facts were "not intended as a factual statement." Riiiiiight.

* Wisconsin governor Scott Walker is stealing the mortgage settlement for the people who had their homes stolen by the banks to pay for the tax cuts he gave the rich. After all, they already had their homes stolen to make the already filthy rich richer, why not steal their money to make the filthy rich richer as well? I mean, they work for a living and actually contribute something to society. That should be severely punished. I do not understand why this is legal.

* It's looking like the guy reporting the Republican party caucus results in Belfast in Waldo County went to call them in, and was told it had already been reported as a Romney win. The problem is, he was the only one designated to report and Paul won his caucus. As a result, the Republican Party chairman said he'd fix it, but instead erased his town's vote tally. Most of Waldo county was counted as zero as well. There is some question as to whether it was incompetence or a deliberate fix by the state party chair. The election was close and the three counties they decided not to count at all, but the chair insists 196 is not that close and not counting three counties doesn't matter. Riiiiiight.

I ask again, given how badly the Republican election officials are botching their primary and the list of reasons to think there is election fixing is involved, how come it is that it's vast numbers of Democrats who need to be disenfranchised to make elections fair? Why are the innocent being punished by losing a basic right of citizenship when what little the election fraud problem we have could be more easily solved by removing corrupt and incompetent Republican election officials and arresting and prosecuting Republican scofflaw, James O'Keefe and his friends for the voter fraud they committed and attempted to commit in the recent New Hampshire primary. These are the only cases of voter fraud I'm seeing, along with a handful of felons who did not realize they lost their vote accidentally voting every decade. For example, in the last decade, Maine had two cases of accidental voter fraud. Compare that to the massive number of people who didn't get their votes counted in this primary. Shouldn't we focus on the real problem rather than the imaginary one?

* Need I point how fucked up it is that PETA is exploiting the history of slavery in the country and the real pain and horrors it inflicted on African Americans with no understanding how offensive it is? Y'all know I'm uncomfortable with confining whales and dolphins given how intelligent and social are. I'm sympathetic to the goal of setting them free except in rescue situations where the animals are being treated for injuries and the like, or where the animal is too damage to live in the wild. That doesn't make the way they are going about it even close to okay. I often have this problem with PETA and I think when they use tactics that show off their privilege like this and generally piss off people of good will they are harming their cause, not helping. They are so busy being assholes they discredit not only themselves, but other groups that are working in less damaging ways toward more reasonable goals. Fuck you, PETA!

* Yes, I'm cranky. The whole Hector preventing me from getting reasonable sleep and a completely unreasonable pain level for enough days in a row I have lost track will do that.

* I managed to mess up a funds transfer after I got home and now must return to the bank tomorrow to fix. *facepalm* It was supposed to be a sleep in day. Squirrel got to drive himself to work tonight and is finally free to stock up on groceries tomorrow.

* Apparently, I am too high for a tenor, too low for an alto. No wonder singing is a complicated business of switching between normal and falsetto and nothing is ever quite the right range.

* Note to self: Englewood and Inglewood are not the same place. No wonder I keep getting confused as to which coast is being referenced especially when it's spoken, not spelled. I have had arguments where I thought something was referencing New Jersey and my west coast friends looked at me like I'd grown a forehead tentacle and explained as if I were a small child that it's in California. Obviously. *Facepalm*

* I think these are the ugliest shoes I've ever seen: http://cdn03.cdn.gofugyourself.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/138780284-419x513.jpg

* Al Franken's moving speech about why we need a federal law protecting LGBTQ children fron bullying in schools. You may need tissues: http://youtu.be/GhLRpUMwacs

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* It turns out that Virginia republicans voted down an amendment to their soon to be passed law requiring women to be probed in their vaginas without consent that would have required consent from the women. After all, Virginia Republican lawmakers don't see any reason why women should have a right to say no to things being stuck in there. Charming. They are also halfway through the process of banning birth control in their state. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#46406410


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