Nec Hoc Nec Ilud

* (I made a small start on the queer news, but it's tiny compared to the prepped link. Very little after that point went up. The backlog is daunting and this coming week turns out to also be a monster scheduling wise, plus the election coverage about to hit. We are in the midst of all hands on deck cleaning for an inspection, for example. See below.).

* "As unrest grips Iran’s schools, the government is going after children:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/11/01/iran-protests-children-hijab-amini/

* "Cleric killed in restive Iranian city, protests rage on:" https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iranian-human-rights-lawyers-criticise-clerical-leaders-amid-unrest-2022-11-03/

* CW: Child Murder "Children among 10 feared dead in Iran crackdown, Amnesty says:" https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/05/middleeast/iran-protest-crackdown-amnesty-international-intl-hnk/index.html

* "Iranians defy crackdown with fresh protests, as president dismisses US vow to ‘free Iran’:" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/06/iranians-defy-crackdown-with-fresh-protests-as-president-dismisses-us-vow-to-free-iran

* "US and Saudi Arabia concerned that Iran may be planning attack on energy infrastructure in Middle East:" https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/01/politics/us-saudi-arabia-iran-energy-infrastructure-middle-east/index.html

* Well, fuck! "Israel election final results: Netanyahu, Jewish far right win power, fiasco for left:" https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections/2022-11-03/ty-article/israel-election-final-results-netanyahu-jewish-far-right-win-power-fiasco-for-left/00000184-3e80-daf1-abc4-7f9a53f40000

* Re: Netanyahu

I’ve stated some form of this over the years any number of times, but in the current climate, I should reiterate it.

My dislike of Netanyahu and his ultra-right positions is specific to Netanyahu because of his ultra-right positions, his corruption, his policies, etc.. His party and allies have policies I oppose, much in the way I oppose Trump and the Republicans, Rishi Sunak (and Liz Truss, Boris Johnson, and every Tory PM back to the much hated Thatcher which was about when I started following UK Politics in real time), Viktor Orbán, Jair Bolsanaro, and a host of other horrible extreme right wing politicians the world over to numerous to list.

This does not and should not be taken for anger at the Israeli left or Jewish people the world over who did not vote for a right wing party in the recent Israeli election. There is a reason my coverage of Israeli politics mostly originates from left leaning Israeli news sources like Haaretz.

There is far too much violent antisemitism in the world right now, far to many politicians of every stripe happy to stoke antisemitism for personal power, far too many antisemitic movements and the like. In my country one of the two political parties with any power proudly embraces it.

This I am furious about and very much wish to fight against.

Please don’t take the recent election in Israel as an excuse to do or say something that harms real people who have nothing to do with it or were actively wanting a better outcome.

It is important to separate a dislike of a particular person for political reasons from a wider attack on a large group living in many countries famously holding a wide variety of beliefs and opinions.

I try very hard to do that in this space.

* A relief! "Denmark election result keeps Social Democrats at the helm:" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/02/denmark-election-result-keeps-social-democrats-at-the-helm

* A massive relief!!! "Brazil election: Anti-LGBTQ+ tyrant Jair Bolsonaro beaten by leftist Lula:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/10/30/brazil-election-lula-beats-jair-bolsonaro-lgbtq/

* "Why Bolsonaro’s stunning loss should give humans a glimmer of hope:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/10/31/jair-bolsonaro-lula-brazilian-election-amazon-putin-ukraine/

* *digits cruciform* "We Might Finally Be Free From the Madness of Bolsonaro:" https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/31/opinion/brazil-election-lula-bolsonaro.html

* Let’s hope things go well for democracy. "Trucks, Protesters Block Brazil Highways After Bolsonaro Rout:" https://www.barrons.com/news/trucks-protesters-block-brazil-highways-after-bolsonaro-rout-01667224207

* "Steve Bannon says Bolsonaro can't concede as he rails against Biden and CIA:" https://www.newsweek.com/steve-bannon-bolsonaro-brazil-election-lula-1755696

* "Brazil's Bolsonaro signals cooperation with transfer of power, but does not concede election defeat :" https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/01/americas/bolsonaro-brazil-elections-protests-intl-latam/index.html

* "Bolsonaro backers call on Brazil military to intervene after Lula victory:" https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/bolsonaro-backers-call-brazil-military-intervene-after-lula-victory-2022-11-02/

* "Rishi Sunak 'wants to gut trans rights from Equality Act':" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/11/01/rishi-sunak-trans-equality-act/

* "New women's minister defends troubling voting record on women's rights:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/11/01/minister-for-women-maria-caulfield-abortion-clinic-vote/

* "Manston migrant centre like a zoo, says asylum seeker:" https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-63481151

* "Dover petrol bomb attacker said he planned to ‘obliterate Muslim children’:" https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/nov/02/migrant-centre-attacker-planned-to-obliterate-muslim-children-in-final-tweet

* "Russia’s security service works to subvert Moldova’s pro-Western government:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/10/28/russia-fsb-moldova-manipulation/

* "Russia Expected to OK Stricter 'Gay Propaganda' Law This Fall:" https://www.advocate.com/world/2022/10/17/russia-expected-ok-stricter-gay-propaganda-law-fall

* "Bi OnlyFans Creator Sentenced to Prison Over Using the Site:" https://www.advocate.com/news/2022/10/13/bi-onlyfans-creator-sentenced-prison-over-using-site

* "How Halloween revelry turned to disaster in South Korea:" https://graphics.reuters.com/SOUTHKOREA-STAMPEDE/CHRONOLOGY/zjvqjqmmlpx/index.html

* "North Korea fired the highest number of short-range missiles in a day, says South Korea:" https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/01/asia/north-korea-missiles-wednesday-intl-hnk

* "North Korea ICBM may have failed in flight, officials say; residents in Japan told to shelter:" https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/north-korea-fires-ballistic-missile-south-koreas-military-2022-11-02/

* "How Spain looked on as dozens were crushed to death at its border:" https://www.bbc.com/news/extra/z8i55dsu8w/spain-morocco-border

* "Czechs rally against rising extremism and voice support for Ukraine:" https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/czechs-rally-against-rising-extremism-voice-support-ukraine-2022-10-30/

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* "'Scrabble variants' now cause the majority of new Covid-19 infections in the US:" https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/28/health/covid-variants-dominant-bq/index.html

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* "For the first time, Iran acknowledges it sent drones to Russia:" https://www.npr.org/2022/11/05/1134523148/ukraine-russia-war-iran-drones

* "Russia's hope for Ukraine win revealed in battle for Bakhmut:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/russias-hope-for-ukraine-win-revealed-in-battle-for-bakhmut/2022/10/28/d81ceb7e-5692-11ed-ac8b-08bbfab1c5a5_story.html

* "Ukraine's 58th Brigade in the Heart of the Bakhmut Mire:" https://www.voanews.com/a/ukraine-s-58th-brigade-in-the-heart-of-the-bakhmut-mire-/6815660.html

* "Kyiv reels as 'massive' wave of missile strikes hit Ukrainian cities; wheat prices rise as grain deal stalls:" https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/31/ukraines-forces-repel-brutal-russian-offensive-in-donetsk-wheat-prices-rise-after-grain-export-deal-stumbles.html

* "Ukraine’s War Is Leading to a Nervous Breakdown:"

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* "Lions Rescued From Ukraine Find New Home:" https://www.outtraveler.com/news/2022/10/17/lions-rescued-ukraine-find-new-home

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* "US Announces New Sanctions on Iran for Bounty on Rushdie:" https://www.voanews.com/a/us-announces-new-sanctions-on-iran-for-bounty-on-rushdie-/6809948.html

* "Biden sends a stark warning about political violence ahead of midterms: 'We can't take democracy for granted any longer':" https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/02/politics/biden-speech-democracy-dc/index.html

* "Seeing danger in GOP election-deniers, Biden appeals to Americans to support democracy:" https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/seeing-danger-in-gop-election-deniers-biden-appeals-to-americans-to-support-democracy-152373317527

* "Dowd: Biden realized there isn't a sane GOP holding election deniers accountable:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/president-biden-s-speech-addressing-threats-to-democracy-particularly-from-maga-republicans-praised-as-midterms-push-152353861727

* "Rep. Raskin: ‘Joe Biden was trying to strike that tone as the leader of the whole country’:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/president-biden-s-speech-on-attacks-and-threats-to-democracy-responded-to-by-rep-raskin-152356421932

* "Biden administration to provide over $13 billion in aid to help American families lower energy bills:" https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/02/biden-administration-to-provide-over-13-billion-in-aid-to-help-american-families-lower-energy-bills.html

* "More LGBTQ+ Spouses to Receive Survivors' Benefits, VA Announces:" https://www.advocate.com/news/2022/10/20/more-lgbtq-spouses-receive-survivors-benefits-va-announces

* "Rachel Levine Elected to National Academy of Medicine:" https://www.advocate.com/news/2022/10/21/rachel-levine-elected-national-academy-medicine

* "Conservatives Spew Transphobia at Already Anti-Trans Federal Agency:" https://www.advocate.com/news/2022/10/18/conservatives-spew-transphobia-already-anti-trans-federal-agency

* "Elie Mystal: Supreme Court pretended arguments in favor of affirmative action didn’t exist:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/supreme-court-weighs-race-based-college-admissions-don-t-seem-supportive-of-campus-diversity-152115269631

* "Supreme Court to Hear LGBTQ+ Rights Case Before End of Year:" https://www.advocate.com/law/2022/10/19/supreme-court-hear-lgbtq-rights-case-end-year

* "White House Press Secretary Sits Down for an Exclusive Interview:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-sunday-show/watch/white-house-press-secretary-sits-down-for-an-exclusive-interview-151959621696

* I have concerns. "Fed hikes interest rates again, up 0.75 percentage points:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/11/02/fed-rate-hike/

* "'Ripped off': Katie Porter on how price-gouging companies are driving inflation:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/-ripped-off-katie-porter-on-how-price-gouging-companies-are-driving-inflation-152360005651

* "Living Homeless in the Desert:"

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* "What I Learned Watching a Co-Worker Get Forced Out:" https://index.medium.com/what-i-learned-watching-a-co-worker-get-forced-out-2418ca86411

* "Pennsylvania court orders election officials to not count ‘undated’ ballots:" https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/01/pennsylvania-court-undated-ballots-00064549

* "Arizona, Michigan GOP ask voters to mail in ballots and use drop boxes as candidates and officials blast the practice:" https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/29/politics/kfile-arizona-michigan-gop-encourage-mail-ballots/index.html

* "Kristina Karamo seeks court order that could impact thousands of Detroit voters:" https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/10/28/kristina-karamo-lawsuit-detroit-votes/69598090007/

* "Lawyer in Karamo lawsuit targeting Detroit yells at judge, cites debunked film:" https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/11/03/hearing-karamo-lawsuit-targeting-detroit-voters/69616706007/

* "DeSantis Voter Fraud Unit Defends Arresting Former Felons:"

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* If people like this turn up at your door, close and lock it. Do not interact. "In the hunt for voter fraud, Republican door knockers are intimidating residents: officials:" https://www.reuters.com/legal/republican-door-knockers-intimidate-voters-while-hunting-voter-fraud-say-2022-11-03/

* "Election Officials Say Efforts to Intimidate Voters Are Widening:" https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/03/us/politics/voting-intimidation-democracy.html

* "Voter intimidation, election worker threats part of voting climate ahead of midterms:" https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/voter-intimidation-election-worker-threats-part-voting-climate/story?id=92505277

* "North Carolina reports possible voter intimidation, threats ahead of midterm elections:" https://www.reuters.com/world/us/north-carolina-reports-possible-voter-intimidation-threats-ahead-midterms-2022-11-04/

* "Stacey Abrams - Fighting for Voting Access in Georgia:" https://www.cc.com/video/2hwoe3/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-stacey-abrams-fighting-for-voting-access-in-georgia

* "Justice Department says 'vigilante ballot security efforts' in Arizona are likely illegal:" https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/31/politics/arizona-voter-intimidation-doj/index.html

* "Americans face voter intimidation at the polls:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-sunday-show/watch/americans-face-voter-intimidation-at-the-polls-151960645695

* "Judge limits ballot drop box monitoring in Arizona after intimidation claims:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/11/02/arizona-ballot-clean-elections-liburdi/

* If Republicans actually cared about ending voter fraud they'd stop committing it instead of stealing people's right to vote. "Milwaukee Election Commission official Kimberly Zapata could face charges accusing her of fraudulently requesting military ballots:" https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2022/11/03/mayor-says-milwaukee-election-worker-fired-over-ballot-fraud/69616108007/

* "Obama says democracy ‘may not survive’ in Arizona if Republicans win:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/11/03/obama-says-democracy-may-not-survive-if-arizona-republicans-win/

* "‘Let's not pretend’ that Republicans and Democrats share equal blame for election denial, DCCC chair says:" https://www.politico.com/news/2022/10/30/sean-maloney-democrats-republicans-elections-00064138

* "The Five Scariest Statewide Republican Candidates You Haven’t Heard of:" https://newrepublic.com/article/168373/five-scariest-republican-candidates-statewide-office

* "In 5 key battlegrounds, most GOP state legislative nominees are election deniers, report finds:" https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/29/in-5-key-battlegrounds-most-gop-nominees-are-election-deniers.html

If they win, Democracy dies in those states.

Please, please, please vote the whole ticket.

* "GOP candidate Mark Finchem's lawyer proposed fake elector votes that "aren't legal.":" https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2022/11/gop-candidate-mark-finchems-lawyer-proposed-fake-elector-votes-that-arent-legal/

"And this guy wants to be in charge of Arizona's elections."

* I am terrified. Literally every governor and secretary of state race we lose in this election is likely a state that will lose the right to free and fair elections, probably for a generation, possibly forever.

I am terrified because not enough Millennials and Gen z are early voting. We can't save democracy without you. We pretty much need all of you. If we don't save democracy there is zero chance of fixing any thing else in this country.

Yes, things are terrible and most democratic politicians haven't enough spine, but they are legitimately trying to fix things. Republicans are out right promising to crash the world economy if they win the house of representatives to force an end to the social safety net. They are openly promising that if they win in the states, they will fix it so republicans can never lose there again. They are promising a national abortion ban and a repeal of civil and human rights for queer folks. Kiss any attempt to stop the planet burning goodbye.

Fuckssake get out there and vote! This may be your last chance for it to count if Republicans win in your state. Vote because our lives depend on it!

* "GOP floats Medicare changes while ducking details:" https://www.axios.com/2022/11/03/gop-floats-medicare-reform

* "Yes, some Republican senators really are talking openly about Social Security cuts:" https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/yes-some-republican-senators-are-talking-openly-about-social-security-cuts/ar-AA13K0K4?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=b2fd7a3baaf5485b89016d7bbdf50c32

* "GLAAD Ads Remind LGBTQ+ Voters What's at Stake in Midterm Election:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/2022/10/12/glaad-ads-remind-lgbtq-voters-whats-stake-midterm-election

* "Forward thinking, playing offense are opportunities for Democrats as midterms approach:" https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/forward-thinking-playing-offense-are-opportunities-for-democrats-as-midterms-approach-152243269571

* "Can Republicans fulfill their role in a multi-party democracy?:" https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/can-republicans-fulfill-their-role-in-a-multi-party-democracy-152370757778

* Elizabeth Warren Extended Interview:

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* "House GOP uses grade school trick to inflate pad report with 'filler and Fox News' :" https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/house-gop-uses-grade-school-trick-to-inflate-pad-report-with-filler-and-fox-news-152618053708

* "Chris Hayes: If Republicans win, Trump will be the ‘shadow Speaker of the House’:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/chris-hayes-if-republicans-win-trump-will-be-the-shadow-speaker-of-the-house-152597061618

* "Judiciary Republicans hint at investigation into FBI, DOJ if they retake the House:" https://www.npr.org/2022/11/04/1134449665/republicans-investigation-fbi-doj-midterms

* "3 Lies Republicans Are Using This Election| Robert Reich:"

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* "Pro-LGBTQ+ PAC Targets Pa. Republican Candidates Oz and Mastriano:" https://www.advocate.com/news/2022/10/27/pro-lgbtq-pac-targets-penn-republican-candidates-oz-and-mastriano

* "Column: A speech-impaired John Fetterman is better than a fast-talking Mehmet Oz:" https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2022-10-30/john-fetterman-mehmet-oz-aphasia-debate

* "Dr. Oz's Campaign Is Stocked With Jan. 6ers:" https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/dr-oz-jan6-john-fetterman-donald-trump-1234620315/

* He doesn't even know where Pennsylvania IS! O.o "Pennsylvania by the sea: Mehmet Oz implies state has Atlantic coastline:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/nov/01/mehmet-oz-pennsylvania-republican-candidate

* "Doug Mastriano ally Toni Shuppe has a plan to ‘stop the steal of 2022.’ It’s full of misinformation.:" https://www.inquirer.com/news/toni-shuppe-doug-mastriano-election-steal-pennsylvania-20221030.html

* "Exclusive with Josh Shapiro: "Our fundamental freedoms are on the ballot":" https://www.msnbc.com/the-sunday-show/watch/exclusive-with-josh-shapiro-our-fundamental-freedoms-are-on-the-ballot-151960645652

* "Mehmet Oz’s medical research was rejected in 2003, resulting in 2-year ban:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/2022/11/01/oz-senate-doctor-research/

* "Oprah says if she lived in Pennsylvania, she’d vote for Fetterman over Oz in U.S. Senate race:" https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pennsylvania/oprah-winfrey-john-fetterman-mehmet-oz-pa-senate-race-20221103.html

* "GOP candidate Mark Finchem's lawyer proposed fake elector votes that "aren't legal.":" https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2022/11/gop-candidate-mark-finchems-lawyer-proposed-fake-elector-votes-that-arent-legal/

* "How Democracy Is on the Line in 2022 & Beyond:"

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* CW: Rape "GOP candidate wants ‘community-level review’ on if rape victims can get abortions:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/gop-candidate-wants-community-level-review-on-if-rape-victims-can-get-abortions-152599109733

* "How Doug Mastriano ended up in a Holocaust film that troubles scholars:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/11/02/doug-mastriano-holocaust-film-agenda/

* "Endorsement: Please, don’t give your vote to Lauren Boebert:" https://www.denverpost.com/2022/10/29/opinion-lauren-boebert-vote/

* "Lauren Boebert posts particularly vile Tweet and the backlash is brutal:" https://www.queerty.com/lauren-boebert-posts-particularly-vile-tweet-backlash-brutal-20221103

* "Indiana's Democratic Candidates Sign Contract to Protect Abortion Rights:" https://advocatechannel.com/indianas-democratic-candidates-sign-contract-to-protect-abortion-rights

* "Republican says party ‘will never lose another election’ in Wisconsin if he wins:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/nov/02/wisconsin-republican-gubernatorial-candidate-tim-michels

* "Editorial: Vote for Tony Evers and Mandela Barnes to defend our democracy. Here's why.:" https://www.jsonline.com/story/opinion/2022/11/02/wisconsin-vote-for-mandela-barnes-and-tony-evers-to-defend-democracy/69588162007/

* "Ron DeSantis uses 'non-binary student' photo to push pathetic election campaign:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/11/03/ron-desantis-anti-lgbtq-non-binary-stock-photo/

* "Rep. Val Demings: Marco Rubio only likes to talk about crime when it is politically advantageous:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/florida-u-s-senate-candidate-rep-val-demings-demolishes-marco-rubio-s-attempts-to-campaign-on-crime-152489541804

* "Midterms candidates Chris Jones in Arkansas, Charles Booker in Kentucky have impressive ground game:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/midterms-candidates-chris-jones-in-arkansas-charles-booker-in-kentucky-winning-voters-by-focusing-on-forgotten-152605765559

* "Charles Booker touts abortion rights in Kentucky Senate bid:" https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/charles-booker-touts-abortion-rights-kentucky-senate-bid-92607940

* "Leading election denier is on the verge of leading Nevada's election system:" https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/01/trump-aligned-jim-marchant-midterm-election-00064357

* "Nevada's MAGA secretary of state candidate appears to be blatantly ignoring campaign finance law:" https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2022/11/jim-marchant-nevada-secretary-state-maga-trump-citizens-united-campaign-finance/

* "This Bisexual Kansas Legislator Wants to Get Stuff Done:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/2022/10/18/bisexual-kansas-legislator-wants-get-stuff-done

* "‘Emasculating Vance Is Actually Part of Tim’s Effectiveness’:" https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/11/03/tim-ryan-senate-ohio-00064670

* "Tim Ryan on finding "gettable voters" in his quest for a Senate seat:" https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/tim-ryan-on-finding-gettable-voters-in-his-quest-for-a-senate-seat-152240709776

* "Abortion Is on the Ballot. Will It Help the Dems?:"

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* "Chris Hayes: The stakes of the New York governor's race between Zeldin and Hochul:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/chris-hayes-the-stakes-of-the-new-york-governor-s-race-between-zeldin-and-hochul-152107077663

* "Raphael Warnock - The Georgia Senator on His Midterm Race:" https://www.cc.com/video/8rlhtb/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-raphael-warnock-the-georgia-senator-on-his-midterm-race

* "What makes Virginia’s most competitive congressional race so close?:" https://wtop.com/virginia/2022/11/what-makes-virginias-most-competitive-race-so-competitive/

* "Luria makes final case for democracy, vies for Black voters:" https://apnews.com/article/elaine-luria-2022-midterms-strategy-a36ffe96b8d1ec2654ed67cb93639a16

* "Democratic star Katie Porter fights against a conservative resurgence in O.C.:" https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2022-11-01/katie-porter-scott-baugh-california-congress-midterm-elections

* "Election Conspiracies Are Disrupting the Midterms:"

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* "N.J. Democrat once thought safe now in a close congressional race at campaign’s final week:" https://www.nj.com/politics/2022/11/nj-democrat-once-thought-safe-now-in-a-competitive-congressional-race-at-campaigns-final-week.html

* "GOP Candidate Said Elites Drink Blood, Sell ‘Baby Body Parts’ After Abortion:" https://www.vice.com/en/article/epzkdp/kristina-karamo-qanon-blood-body-parts

* "GOP rejection of democracy leaves force and violence as remaining governing option:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/gop-rejection-of-democracy-leaves-force-and-violence-as-remaining-governing-option-152124997513

* "Paul Pelosi's alleged attacker charged with attempted kidnapping:" https://www.politico.com/news/2022/10/31/justice-department-charges-depape-following-paul-pelosi-assault-00064282

* "Fears of Political Violence Following Attack on Paul Pelosi:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-sunday-show/watch/fears-of-political-violence-following-attack-on-paul-pelosi-151959621741

* "What we know about David DePape, the man accused in the Pelosi home invasion, attack:" https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/29/what-we-know-about-david-depape-the-man-accused-in-the-pelosi-home-invasion-attack.html

* An elderly man was beaten with a hammer in an act of political terrorism. They are LYING when they say they are Law and Order candidates. Cruelty is the point. "Arizona GOP nominee Kari Lake mocks attack on Paul Pelosi at campaign event:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2022-election/arizona-gop-nominee-kari-lake-mocks-attack-paul-pelosi-campaign-event-rcna54960

* "Capitol Police cameras caught break-in at Pelosi home, but no one was watching:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/11/01/capitol-police-cameras-caught-break-in-pelosi-home-no-one-was-watching/

* "Fresh finger-pointing over Capitol Police's future after Pelosi home invasion:" https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/04/fresh-finger-pointing-over-capitol-polices-future-after-pelosi-home-invasion-00065064

* "Swalwell: Pelosi suspect’s social media looks like that of Ted Cruz, MTG:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/swalwell-pelosi-suspect-s-social-media-looks-like-that-of-ted-cruz-mtg-152105029931

* "The Facts About the Attack on Paul Pelosi, According to Prosecutors:" https://www.nytimes.com/article/pelosi-paul-nancy-attack-facts.html

* "Joy Reid: There’s a long history of gaslighting and toxic politics regarding Speaker Pelosi:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/paul-pelosi-assault-spawning-far-right-conspiracies-about-attack-decried-as-deplorable-152113733729

* "‘This is not normal, moral, human behavior’: Psaki on GOP response to Pelosi attack:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/-this-is-not-normal-moral-human-behavior-psaki-on-gop-response-to-pelosi-attack-152228933737

* "Right-wing resists facts about extremist violence to preserve identity of victimhood:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/right-wing-resists-facts-about-extremist-violence-to-preserve-identity-of-victimhood-152128069582

* "Trump joins growing GOP effort to whitewash, lie about Pelosi attack:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/trump-joins-growing-gop-effort-to-whitewash-lie-about-pelosi-attack-152227909623

* "Elon Musk tweets anti-LGBTQ+ conspiracy theory about Paul Pelosi attack:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/10/31/elon-musk-paul-pelosi-conspiracy-theory-gay-lgbtq/

* "Hate speech increased on Twitter after Elon Musk takeover, study finds:" https://abcnews.go.com/Business/hate-speech-increased-twitter-elon-musk-takeover-study/story?id=92445797

* "Twitter reportedly limits content moderation ahead of midterm elections:" https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/twitter-reportedly-limits-content-moderation-ahead-of-midterm-elections-152243269649

* Do not trust twitter. "Elon Musk appears in over his head with purchase of Twitter:" https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/elon-musk-appears-in-over-his-head-with-purchase-of-twitter-152617541762

* "Musk's attempt at trolling AOC backfires | Boing Boing:" https://boingboing.net/2022/11/03/musks-attempt-at-trolling-aoc-backfires.html

* "Elon Musk to the Rescue: Big Lie Fanatic Escapes Twitter Ban:" https://www.thedailybeast.com/arizona-election-denier-mark-finchem-credits-elon-musk-for-overturning-twitter-ban

* "What changes has Elon Musk made at Twitter and what might he do next?:" https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/nov/04/mass-sackings-monetisation-elon-musk-twitter-changing

* "Man pleads guilty to threatening to kill Rep. Eric Swalwell and staffers:" https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/28/politics/swalwell-threat-plea/index.html

* "Adams County investigates white powder found on ballot as officials reassure voters the election is safe:" https://www.denver7.com/news/politics/adams-county-investigates-white-powder-found-on-ballot-as-officials-reassure-voters-the-election-is-safe

* "Barrack acquittal another blow to DOJ’s foreign influence crackdown:" https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-influence/2022/11/04/barrack-acquittal-another-blow-to-dojs-foreign-influence-crackdown-00065258

* "Supreme Court Rules That Lindsey Graham Must Testify in Georgia Inquiry:" https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/01/us/politics/supreme-court-lindsey-graham-georgia.html

* "Trump files a suit against New York attorney general, and against advice:" https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation-politics/trump-files-a-suit-against-new-york-attorney-general-and-against-advice/

* "Judge rules in favor of assigning monitor to oversee Trump Organization:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/11/03/judge-rules-favor-assigning-monitor-oversee-trump-organization/

* "Key Trump insider given immunity to testify in Mar-a-Lago documents investigation:" https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/key-trump-insider-given-immunity-to-testify-in-mar-a-lago-documents-investigation-152373829657

* "Litany of Trump legal entanglements grows ever longer as Trump Org criminal trial begins:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/litany-of-trump-legal-entanglements-grows-ever-longer-as-trump-org-criminal-trial-begins-152127557527

* "Trump asks Supreme Court to stop IRS from turning over his tax returns to the House:" https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/31/politics/trump-supreme-court-appeal/index.html

* "Trump lawyers saw Justice Thomas as 'only chance' to stop 2020 election certification:" https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/02/trump-lawyers-saw-justice-thomas-as-only-chance-to-stop-2020-election-certification-00064592

* "Trump lawyers saw Justice Thomas as ‘key’ to post-election plan:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/emails-trump-lawyers-saw-justice-thomas-as-key-to-post-election-plan-152356421588

* "Trump loyalist Kash Patel questioned before Mar-a-Lago grand jury:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/11/03/kash-patel-grand-jury-trump/

* "Despite Eastman appeal, Jan. 6 committee accesses 8 disputed emails:" https://www.politico.com/news/2022/10/30/eastman-appeals-jan6-committee-disputed-00064166

* "House January 6 committee gives Trump more time to turn over subpoenaed documents:" https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/04/politics/trump-january-6-subpoena-deadline/index.html

* "Capitol Police officer disputes claims that Oath Keepers were seen protecting him during Jan. 6 attack:" https://abcnews.go.com/US/capitol-police-officer-disputes-claims-oath-keepers-protecting/story?id=92432188

* "Oath Keepers spent over $400 at post-US Capitol riot feast at the Olive Garden, prosecutors say:" https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/01/politics/oath-keepers-olive-garden-january-6/index.html

* "New Report Sheds Light on Gun Violence in LGBTQ+ Lives:" https://www.advocate.com/news/2022/10/11/new-report-sheds-light-gun-violence-lgbtq-lives

* "Chris Hayes: The myth of crime as a big-city, blue-state problem:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/chris-hayes-the-myth-of-crime-as-a-big-city-blue-state-problem-152230981820

* "Polly Klaas’s murder fueled the 90s crime panic. Her sisters fear ‘we’re repeating history’:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/oct/22/polly-klaas-sisters-criminal-justice-mass-incarceration

* "Detectives in Breonna Taylor Killing Confess to Falsifying Warrant Evidence:" https://advocatechannel.com/detectives-in-breonna-taylor-killing-admit-to-falsifying-warrant-evidence-based-on-gut-feeling

* "Police Killed a Boy. His Friend Was Charged With Murder:" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFjFze39Dcc

* "Video Shows Sheriffs Choking, Tasing Unarmed Transgender Woman:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/2022/10/24/video-shows-sheriffs-choking-tasing-unarmed-transgender-woman

* "Comedian Eric André Files Lawsuit Against Atlanta Airport Police:" https://www.outtraveler.com/news/2022/10/20/two-black-comedians-file-lawsuit-against-atlanta-airport-police

* "I Spent Over 40 Years Working in Corrections. I Wasn’t Ready for Rikers.:" https://mailchi.mp/themarshallproject/i-spent-over-40-years-working-in-corrections-i-wasnt-ready-for-rikers

* "Ezra Miller Pleads Not Guilty to Burglary Charges in Vermont:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/2022/10/17/ezra-miller-pleads-not-guilty-burglary-charges-vermont

* "Bi Actor Andy Dick Arrested on Felony Burglary Charge:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/2022/10/21/bi-actor-andy-dick-arrested-felony-burglary-charge

* "Sheriff's office says antisemitic messages in Jacksonville were not crimes:" https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/30/us/florida-georgia-game-kanye-west/index.html

* "Pa. School District Allegedly Discriminated Against LGBTQ+ Students:" https://www.advocate.com/news/2022/10/09/penn-school-district-allegedly-discriminated-against-lgbtq-students

* "How The “No Child Left Behind” Act Failed on Every Level:"

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How The “No Child Left Behind” Act Failed on Every Level

When this was passed teachers called it things like “children Left behind” because we could see it was designed to starve neighborhood schools so Republicans could close them, forcing busing to other schools and shifting funding even further away from the schools that need it into charter schools that can bar students who are poor, or not white, or who have limited English, or who have special needs.

This is about de facto segregation. It’s about starving public schools of funds. it’s about excuses to deprive the students with the biggest needs of an education.

All “Back to Basics” school “reforms” are about defending music, art, social studies, and sciences, because Republicans hate anything that keeps children from dropping out and/or teaches critical thinking. Science and social studies teach things like applying logic to real world problems, evaluating evidence, and thinking for yourself. The last thing they want is accurate history or modern science taught to children.

All Republicans want is to create an ignorant easily manipulable permanent underclass that votes for them. Quality Public education in anathema to them.

Republicans keep saying, “you can’t just through money at the problem,” yet never once in the history of this country have we tried funding the schools for the poor at the level we fund schools for the well off. we know objectively that 15-18 students is the sweet spot for class size at all grades. why not for once try paying teachers a living wage and hire enough of them to give every class room the same student/teacher ratios private schools have. How about instead of pennies per student per day we actually buy enough equipment and supplies so that all students get to do hands on science instead of only students who already have all the advantages? How about paying for proper maintenance on schools so the heating works and the pipes don’t bang and the roof doesn’t leak? How about money for computers and library books? How about desks and chairs so every student in every class gets one as well as a locker that closes and locks?

Can’t we try that just once?

Teaching pays about as well as Burger King and teachers owe student loans and need to pay for continuing ed and certification re-upping. They need supplies for themselves and students and a professional wardrobe and money for transportation and to pay off massive student loans, plus food, housing, medical stuff, etc.. out of what amounts to minimum wage.

Nobody goes into teaching expecting to get rich; they do it because they want to teach. Punishing them because the schools are falling apart and the textbooks are as old as they are is counter-productive. Actually funding the schools properly would let them do their jobs.

But no one ever ask teachers when they do “school reform.” It is nearly always imposed by people who’ve never taught based on ignorance and a deep refusal to look at the research.

* CW: Rape, Human Trafficking "Smooth Like Butter: The Slippery Underbelly of the Kpop Industry:"

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* CW: Rape, Abuse, Pedophilia "MLM to Cult of Horrors, The Complete Saga: NXIVM:"

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* "LGBTQ+ World Cup fans told hand-holding fine – but don't kiss:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/10/28/holding-hands-world-cup-no-public-affection-qatar-ambassador/

The World Cup should never have been held here. A whole lot of mostly guest workers literally died building that stadium, worked to death in the heat.

Their human rights record with LGBTQIA+ people is horrific and should be disqualifying.

* "Qatar journalist says LGBTQ+ people are ‘abnormal’ ahead of World Cup:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/10/31/qatar-journalist-lgbtq-abnormal-world-cup/

* "Wales footballers won’t be silenced when it comes to Qatar’s LGBTQ+ atrocities:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/11/02/wales-footballers-wont-be-banned-from-addressing-qatars-lgbtq-rights-record-officials-confirm/

* "Gay Qatari man won't let World Cup 'bury' LGBTQ+ atrocities 'in the shadows':" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/11/05/qatar-gay-nas-mohamed-world-cup/

* "Gay men shot outside LGBTQ+ bar laid to rest as thousands take to streets:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/10/27/gay-men-shot-outside-slovakian-lgbtq-bar-laid-to-rest-as-thousands-take-to-streets-in-protest/

* "Czech MP comes out as gay after horrific Slovakia LGBTQ+ bar shooting:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/10/31/czech-mp-gay-jiri-navratil/

* "Malaysia police detain 20 people at LGBTQ+ Halloween party for 'cross-dressing':" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/10/31/malaysia-halloween-party-raid-religious-police-sharia-law/

* "Irish law protecting trans people from hate crime 'too little too late':" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/10/27/ireland-trans-hate-crime-violence-law/

* "Gay Palestinian Man Beheaded After Receiving Death Threats:" https://www.advocate.com/world/2022/10/07/gay-palestinian-man-beheaded-after-receiving-death-threats

* "Mexico celebrates as same-sex marriage becomes law of the land:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/10/27/same-sex-marriage-legalised-mexico/

* "Trevor Project Launches Services in Mexico:" https://www.advocate.com/youth/2022/10/11/trevor-project-launches-services-mexico

* "Former Cop Reveals Horrific Gay Bashings by Police:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/2022/10/05/former-cop-reveals-horrific-gay-bashings-police

* "Gender law reforms pass first vote in Scotland with 'overwhelming' support:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/10/27/scotland-trans-gender-recognition-reform-vote/

* "Conversion therapy ban delayed by equalities minister Kemi Badenoch:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/10/31/conversion-therapy-ban-kemi-badenoch/

* "Grindr Faces Boycott After Gay CEO's Right-Wing Tweets Are Revealed:" https://www.advocate.com/news/2022/10/13/grindr-faces-boycott-after-gay-ceos-right-wing-tweets-are-revealed

* "Social Security Will Allow Users to Select Own Gender Marker:" https://www.advocate.com/news/2022/10/20/social-security-will-allow-users-select-own-gender-marker

* "South Carolina governor says he wants a statewide ban on same-sex marriage:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/10/29/south-carolina-henry-mcmaster-same-sex-marriage-ban-supreme-court/

* "Men who violently attacked gay couple escape jail thanks to kindness of victims:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/10/27/miami-homophobic-attack-avoid-jail/

* "2022 U.S. Trans Survey:" https://www.ustranssurvey.org/

* Why you should fill it out "The biggest transgender survey in the US is underway. Here's why it's important:" https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/02/us/us-trans-survey-2022-cec/index.html

* "If I say "the queer community", I am referring to the community of self identified queers. If you're not a self identified queer, then I wasn't talking about you!:" https://laughingacademy.tumblr.com/post/699776198583238656

* Rightly so!!! CW: Rape, Murder, Cannibalism "Jeffrey Dahmer Halloween costumes banned by LGBTQ+ bars:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/10/31/jeffrey-dahmer-halloween-costumes-lgbtq-bars-wisconsin/

* "Heartstopper fans react to star Kit Connor being forced to come out as bisexual:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/11/01/kit-connor-bisexual-coming-out-fan-reaction/

It is wrong to bully people. It is extra wrong to bully teenagers.

No one owes you their coming out. People deserve to work stuff out without pressure.

What the fuck is wrong with people?

This isn’t a closeted anti-queer politician out to hurt us. This is a literal teenager who is just trying to live his life.

* "Kit Connor's coming out proves bi-erasure is rife even in LGBTQ+ community:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/11/02/kit-connor-biphobia-bi-erasure-bisexual/

* "The Outing of Kit Connor:"

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* "Why we should be watching the sun, not the clock:" https://www.theguardian.com/news/2019/jan/11/watching-the-sun-not-the-clock-sleep-body-clocks-daylight-saving-time

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* "Philippine death toll from storm Nalgae rises to 98, disaster agency says:" https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/30/asia/philippines-tropical-storm-nalgae-paeng-deaths-intl-hnk/index.html

* "Photos: The aftermath of tropical storm Nalgae in Philippines:" https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2022/11/1/photos-the-aftermath-of-tropical-storm-nalgae-in-philippines

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* "Greece: Dozens missing after boat carrying migrants sinks:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/greece-dozens-missing-after-boat-carrying-migrants-sinks/2022/11/01/52543176-59b9-11ed-bc40-b5a130f95ee7_story.html

* "What we know about India's deadly bridge collapse:" https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/01/india/india-gujarat-morbi-bridge-collapse-explainer-intl-hnk

* "We Need To Talk About The Latest SHEIN Scandal:"

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* "First wild bison born in UK for millennia after surprise pregnancy:" https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/oct/21/first-wild-bison-born-in-uk-for-millennia-after-surprise-pregnancy

* "The Gruesome History of Real Life Vampire Hunting:"

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* "Ghosts Are Legally Real:"

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* "Recalling LGBTQ+ Stories in Hispanic Heritage Month:" https://www.advocate.com/voices/2022/10/14/recalling-lgbtq-stories-hispanic-heritage-month

* "Pioneering singer who recorded first gay country songs dies aged 78:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/11/01/patrick-haggerty-gay-country-singer-dies-aged-78/

* "Proud to be a Gay Icon: Angela Lansbury's Life & Legacy:"

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* "Bail Reform:"

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* "Stephen's Message To Young Voters | Dick Bigger, Jr. Is The Breakout Star Of This Election Season:"

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* "Dr. Oz Surfs PA's Coast | Taylor Swift Dominates The Charts | Elon Negotiates With Stephen King:"

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* "Votedemic 2022: Atlanta - Day 1:" https://www.cc.com/video/q0462s/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-votedemic-2022-atlanta-day-1

* "Votedemic 2022: Atlanta - Day 2 :" https://www.cc.com/video/rsdbd4/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-votedemic-2022-atlanta-day-2

* "Votedemic 2022: Atlanta - Day 3:" https://www.cc.com/video/9udze9/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-votedemic-2022-atlanta-day-3

* "Kosta La Vista Baby - Atlanta:" https://www.cc.com/video/3yu223/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-kosta-la-vista-baby-atlanta

* "Is Atlanta the Real-Life Wakanda?:" https://www.cc.com/video/ap288q/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-is-atlanta-the-real-life-wakanda

* CW: Self Harm, Eating Disorders. "The Harmful Drive for Queer Perfection:"

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* "DefunctTV: The History of the First Muppet Show, Sam and Friends:"

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* "5 Spooky Musicals That Are Totally UNHINGED:"

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* "Dr. Oz Is Surfin' PA:"

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* "Olive Garden Is The Perfect Place To Subvert Democracy:"

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* "This Is How Kari Lake's Comments Would Sound If They Were Actually Creatively Edited:"

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* "President Biden Midterms Address Cold Open - SNL:"

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* "Weekend Update: Tammy the Trucker on Gas Prices and Definitely Not Abortion - SNL:"

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* "Vlad the Impaler vs Count Dracula. Epic Rap Battles of History:"

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* More attempts at Gothmas Phase II pictures: https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/699602590803083264

* The emperor has been trying to break into one of the presents since it arrived, including an attempt to unwrap it the second I pulled it from the box. Turned out it was a massive bag of hand dried catnip. https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/699682102668673024/gothmashalloween-2022-the-emperor-has-been-tryingfr.

* Since the Pandemic started, I put out bowls of candy. each bowl has a handful of things. Adults are welcome too, and I usually give out a lot of candy. This year one person stole the bowl itself, and no one else came. I think the three families with kids have moved out, since i haven't seen or heard them playing since summer. I've noticed that the other people that usually decorate in the complex didn't this year. It's sad.

I did get reverse trick or treated and Squirrel and I split the loot. Weirdly, it was not the bowl thief.

* October is always really hard on my body and particularly so in the back half. Halloween week takes everything I have really. Samhein is the most important holiday of my year and it takes everything.

Wednesday my body hard vetoed Wednesday errands. I called Head Millennial in time for them to get public transport and make evening arrangements. I could barely walk and had the pain shakes. One days like this, it's best to just take ones meds and go back to sleep and home a nap will reset things. This was correct. When I tried again later, I was a functional level of awful. We managed to take in the Halloween specific exterior stuff and box it all up. I'll need to tweek the "Harvest Display" and do a day time sweep to be sure we got everything before boxes go back into storage. Halloweentown is in chaos, but that's another day's problem.

Head Millennial went above and beyond today. I love how fundamentally kind and trustworthy they are. we had dinner together and watched a movie we'd started a week ago, geeking out together about the high quality lighting design and mourning the death of banter in modern romcoms as well as how few productions are willing to pay for really artistic lighting. (I sited Black Sails as proof the art isn't lost, even though we might think it was looking at the newest Halloween and Got/house of the dragon. Head Millennial is very grumpy about Halloween franchise in particular.)

It sounds like Visiting Millennial has decided to move up here, so at some point in the future they will be Newest Millennial. There is much rejoicing.

NOTE for newer readers: I like to use sobriquets to prevent people chain tracking through blogs. It was always my instinct and I got stricter after that reporter found me through the blog of a friend who wasn't as careful after Skye was murdered. It was fine. She was nice and professional and my friend changed the post in case of future accident. My point is that a determined swatter could find me, but I like to make them work for it if they want my friends.

* Another disabled Elder Goth friend suggested there should be a "Retired Goth Bat sanctuary" for people like us. This delights me.

There is talk of Tee shirts.

Possibly next week.

I already want one.

* Thursday was the blue beast's mechanic appointment. They are always booked for weeks out this time of year. This meant very little sleep, but the coolant situation is sorted and I should be okay on the engine not melting for a while. *Knock wood*

Friday I just wanted sleep, but of they woke me up trying to strong arm me into a home health assessment. Thing is, it's an excellent service and an important one. My mother used them in her last year of life when her health was failing. They assess the person; they assess the needs; they help organize complex meds schedules; they hook people up with services. I support the program and said so to the lady, but I do not want one.

Why? She wanted to know. I do not need what they are offering and I don't like strangers in my home it's invasive. I don't need a dementia test. I have a home health aid. My meds schedule is, indeed, complex, but it's logical. (Think of it as a logic puzzle. Pills needing to be taken on an empty stomach need to go first thing in the morning. Ppills needing to be taken with food need to be at least an hour after empty stomach pills, and need to work with meal scheduling. Some pills can't be taken within two hours of each other, etc.. Some pills need to be taken multiple times a day. For a while I had a pill that needed to go four times a day, at least two hours after eating and an hour before eating. It was a nightmare, but I did it.) I do not want people tampering with the schedule, because every adjustment is a hassle and a half, and I have it down. The point is, it's my body deteriorating, not my mind, and I handle things just fine within my physical limits and I hate all the invasive monitoring that comes with living in this complex and that comes with being disabled. I minimize it where I can.

So I go to the bathroom, give Livia a come for pettins offer, reset my pillow prop system, and settle back in to try to sleep.

The phone rings. It's the system that pay for my caregiver. Mandatory home inspection. *deep sigh* I managed to wiggle out of this one so far because of the pandemic. It's so intrusive and I fucking hate that I don't get to have privacy because I'm disabled. I can't manage without Head Millennial, so I guess we're doing that Monday, plus the already scheduled social worker call Tuesday.

* "Here are the Spookiest Cities in America:" https://www.outtraveler.com/best-travel/2022/10/21/spookiest-cities-america

* "America's 15 Most Haunted Hotels:" https://www.outtraveler.com/news/2022/10/22/americas-15-most-haunted-hotels#media-gallery-media-16

* Events towards the end of Dracula from the viewpoint of the locals: https://uri59.tumblr.com/post/699674996605403136/random-sailor-at-the-sereth-river-this-night-is

* Ed as Blackbeard: https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/699813146114818048/ok-i-just-have-to-ask-did-you-notice-ed-as

* Arden Powell at the The Midnight Society: https://twitter.com/midnight_pals/status/1585317897785647105

* Clive Barker vs JK Rowling at The Midnight Society : https://twitter.com/midnight_pals/status/1586397640186466304

* Goblin detecting sword: https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/699816725716287488

* I feel this in my bones: https://xkcd.com/2692/

* "You’ve been sentenced to 400 years for multiple murders. It’s been 399 years and your jailers are starting to get nervous.:" https://www.tumblr.com/elidyce/688193708499320832/writing-prompt-s-youve-been-sentenced-to-400

* "God of Arepo:" https://gallusrostromegalus.tumblr.com/post/699776328566800384

*****
* 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.

* "Plan Your Vote: 2022 Elections:" https://www.nbcnews.com/specials/plan-your-vote-2022-elections/index.html?language=english&state=WA

* If you would like to help support me and the Cats: paypal.me/Gwydion

( Links Underneath: )

* "North Korea Launches Missile Over Japan:" https://www.wsj.com/articles/north-korea-launches-missile-through-japanese-airspace-1503957389

* "Trump sought Moscow business deal while campaigning for president:"

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* "Trump Moscow deal pushed as asset to campaign:"

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* "Trump declines to single out Russia as 'security threat':" http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/348326-trump-wont-single-out-russia-as-security-threat

* The New York Times and Washington Post both have pieces about a shady as fuck deal with Putin to build a hotel in Moscow back during the election that looks like another set of bricks in the Trump-Corruption treason case. Likely explaining the whole Mueller wanting 45's financial records and 45 threatening to fire him if he subpoenaed them, as 45 knows exactly how guilty he is. Remember we suspected something like this more than a year ago. I remember explaining to a gathering of friends at a lake picnic last August that 45 was foot dragging on public release of his financial records and why reporters were so keen to get their hands on them. Sigh. Anyway, but brain isn’t close to up to the task of trying to untangle the details of the reporting tonight, but likely there will be lots more in future.

* "Trump signed 'letter of intent' for Russian tower during campaign, lawyer says:" http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-knew-moscow-tower-proposal-campaign-lawyer/story?id=49472342

* "Lawyer Says He Discussed Moscow Tower Plan With Trump Three Times:" https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-28/lawyer-says-he-discussed-moscow-tower-plan-with-trump-3-times

* So it's looking like 45 tried to quash the Arpaio case by trying to get Sessions and White House Council, McGahn to stop it going forwrd last spring. Which looks like Obstruction of Justice. Just a reminder: 45 called Arpaio a "hero" and a "great guy" for violating the 4th Amendment Rights of American Citizens, and for setting up, in Arpaio's own words, a "concentration camp" in which people died of things like being denied water for a week. When he does this, 45 is aplauding him for doing terrible things like refusing to investigate the rape of women and children as young as two. These are the things 45 stands for and Arpaio is proud of.

* "Trump: I pardoned Arpaio during hurricane because I thought TV ratings would be higher:" http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/348327-trump-i-pardoned-arpaio-during-hurricane-because-i-thought-tv-ratings

* "Trump pardon of Arpaio sparks controversy:"

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* "Trump to roll back Obama's crackdown on military equipment for local police:" http://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/28/police-military-gear-trump-242092

* In related news, it's looking like Trump may be thinking of pushing him out of the Cabinet of Deplorables, probably in favour of Nikki Haley. "Tillerson on Trump's values: The president 'speaks for himself':" http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/348170-tillerson-trump-speaks-for-himself

* "Gorka says he's heading back to Breitbart:" http://www.politico.com/blogs/on-media/2017/08/26/sebastian-gorka-breitbart-return-242066

* What South Korea did after the Occupation has bearing on our confederate monument problem: http://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/164738945757/freifraufischer-x

* Why Black Pride makes sense, but White Pride makes you an asshole: http://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/164741047282/liberalsarecool-this

* "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

* My body did a hard veto on foraging today. I did drag myself out for meds and library, but the heat and my AS and allergies to outside are combining to make me annoyingly shaky and slow of thought. I keep telling myself I just need to hang on another week or so and there will be food I actually want to eat again and likely rains.

...I just discovered a thing I was supposed to take back to the library today in the (luckily dry) 30 gallon office tank, likely casually tossed there by Tavy in a moment of exuberance. it wasn't due, but there was a line, which means someone will lose to days they could have had it. Sigh. cats.

* I keep crying over footage from Houston. The image that really got me today was the one of the nursing home patients trapped in rapidly rising water, women in wheelchairs with water up to their chests and rising. I know they are all right, that the posting of the image by a relative saved their lives, since help came in time to get them out, but I keep imaging their fear, and how fragile they are. Every time I think of them, I start weeping again.

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

* One of the fundamental problems with me watching Game of Thrones is that the whole writing stopped being any good years ago thing means I don't really engage emotionally and I'm bored enough a lot of the time that I see all the structural bones. Me: they cut the whole thing with the horns from the books, so they need a way to bring down the wall, so they need an ice dragons, which may be in the book too, but I'm betting not as clumsily contrived, so they had to lure a dragon North, so they had to do the stupid plot holey bro-trip that repeats the thing with sending Yoren with the hand to Kingslanding, and anyway D&D really wanted the bro tip and who cares if anything during or about it makes sense, which means the whole thing with the telepathic communication between Lannister brothers, and accelerated teleportation between locations to an even more ridiculous extent, which means... Fuck, I forgot to listen to the dialog again.

I just... This show criminally wastes the talents of so many skilled actors with embarrassing and often clunky dialog. They started this episode with a dick conversation. They wasted so much time this season on stirring up pointless drama with usually misogynistic usually nonsense conversation that winded back people' arcs yet again, and forgetting people's back stories so that their behavior often makes no sense or trauma appears and disappears in the same scene, that they had to wind up a whole lot of character's arcs all at once abruptly this episode instead of using the season to gradually build various character arcs to meaningful moments. *Facepalm* Which means all these incredibly skilled actors are trying their damnedest to make their characters make sense DESPITE the writing instead of with the help of it. The slow also gives me time to get so focused on the fuck nonsense is so and so wearing instead of what they are saying.

It's been a criminal, heartbreaking waste of so much hard work and talent.

Addendum in response to reader comment:
The Clegane situation this season has been one of the wore examples of them turning his backstory on and off at the drop of the hat often within the same minute. I just... that poor actor, trying to make that mess WORK. It was very much one of the things I was thinking of when I wrote that. Him working through and over coming his trauma could have been so powerful this season if the writers, you know, understood trauma and how people process it and how to write a consistent character and character growth.

Instead it was ridiculous and embarrassingly bad. Again, not the actor’s fault any more than the mess they made of, say, Sansa Stark and Theon Greyjoy were the fault of the actors. The tendency they’d had all along to flip character traits, backstory, and development on and off randomly, has just accelerated to the point of over the top silly with Clegane especially the lat two episodes. They aren’t even pretending to be coherent any more.

* Want to donate to the windshield wiper fund? (32$) 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 Hurricane Harvey Victims:" http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/27/how_to_help_hurricane_harvey_victims.html

* 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

* (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

* "Pattern of hacking preceded attendee of Trump camp Russia meeting:"

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* 45 has put Wilbur Ross in charge of the colonialist looting of Afghanistan's mineral resources he announced earlier this week.

* "A wounded Trump lashes out at Phoenix rally:" http://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/22/trump-arizona-phoenix-rally-241923

* "Senate investigators interview dossier firm founder:" http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/22/politics/glenn-simpson-senate-judiciary-investigators/index.html

* "Exclusive: Top Trump aide's email draws new scrutiny in Russia inquiry:" http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/23/politics/donald-trump-rick-dearborn-email-russia-investigation/index.html

* "White House prepares for Joe Arpaio pardon:" http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/23/politics/joe-arpaio-pardon-white-house-paperwork/index.html

* "Napolitano: Arpaio pardon would be a 'dis' to Arizona:"

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* "Trump goes after Flake by name, after pledging not to:" http://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/23/trump-jeff-flake-name-241941

* "Trump team escalates threats to shut down government:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-team-escalates-threats-shutdown-government-n795506

* "Web hosting company ordered to turn over information on anti-Trump website:" http://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/24/trump-inauguration-protest-dreamhost-court-241973

* Like rats from a sinking ship. "Infrastructure Advisers Quit, Say Trump’s Actions Threaten Homeland Security:" http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/infrastructure-advisers-trump-homeland-security_us_599ddf67e4b0821444c07fb9?ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000067

* "Former Trump adviser Icahn on NY AG Schneiderman's radar:"

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* "Another Republican stock photo fail:"

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* "Charlottesville: United Nations warns US over 'alarming' racism:" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/23/charlottesville-un-committee-warns-us-over-rise-of-racism

* "Bryan Stevenson & Andra Day - The Ideology of White Supremacy in America - Extended Interview:"

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* "Nnamdi Asomugha & Colin Warner - From Friendship to Freedom in "Crown Heights" - Extended Interview :"

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* "Memo outlines Trump ban on transgender people in the US military:"

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* "White House gives Pentagon six months to create new trans military ban policy:" http://www.losangelesblade.com/2017/08/23/white-house-gives-pentagon-six-months-to-create-new-trans-military-ban-policy/

* "What trans soldier Albert Cashier can teach Trump about patriotism:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/aug/22/donald-trump-transgender-military-ban-albert-cashier

* "I am holding hands with a girl at the pet store.:" http://seananmcguire.tumblr.com/post/164547838865/ishipbadasschicks-nobodysflower-i-am-holding

* "Historic mystery at sea solved but stays a secret:"

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* "Dear Men:" http://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/164588080367/dear-men

* "Good Samaritan bit trying to leash roaming iguana Mr. Jingles:" http://www.unionleader.com/animals/good-samaritan-bit-trying-to-leash-roaming-iguana-mr-jingles--20170814

* "Nuclear Waste: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO):" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwY2E0hjGuU

* "Hillary Clinton Unloads on Trump:"

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* "Serious Trump vs. Somber Trump vs. Freestyle Trump:"

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* ""Michael the Black Man": President Trump's No. 1 Fan:"

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* I gave up trying to make sense of 45's word salad Arizona rant a little before midnight on the grounds that i was exhausted and all I was getting out of it was a headache instead of meaning. I did have a lovely dream about a modern AU where Steve Rogers (me in the dream. Don't judge.) woke from the ice with no real memories of what came before, bet with the same personality and super soldier upgrades. He ended up recruited by Amanda Waller (Yes, I know I'm crossing the Marvel/DC streams) instead of Nick Fury. Meanwhile, when Natasha Romanov defected, she took the Winter Soldier with her. Bucky was exactly as confused with only vague flashes of the Before time. Natasha was running her own ring for Nick Fury out of a garage, with Bucky as mechanic and husband. Steve Rogers was sent for a team up mission between the two agencies. So there is Natasha dressed rather like the matriarch in sons of Anarchy, one elbow on Bucky's shoulder looking me over.( Cut for salaciousness: ) And off we went on a mission that was basically a large trapped enemy base infiltration, with bits of memory coming back to both Steve and Bucky. A++ would Steve/Bucky/Natasha base infiltrate again. That and the cuddling Tavy and reading Tanya Huff's Fire Stone were the only good things that happened today.

I did some calculations and determined that I could make the attempt on tires today. This was a terrible mistake. Internet directions looked straightforward. This was a lie. They had me get off in the next town up drive to the highschool make a couple turns and follow this big straight road until I saw it on my right. This was not how we got there last time, but that also involved lots of turns through back country, which is always a terrible fucking idea, as the street signs are seldom good, there are few places to turn around or ask directions, and the local teens have a habit of twisting street signs to lead strangers astray. Worse yet, the nice straight lines on maps are usually lying and things happen like if you go straight at the intersection you are on a different road and to go straight by the map you must go left or right, often with no street sign of the street sign twisted the wrong way and there is no next street sign for another ten miles to tell you you are on the wrong road. All of these things happened, of course, which was why I was dreading doing this, especially without a navigator. I burned a third of a tank of gas, pulled over in a bunch of church lots, a factory lot, and someones house to consult maps. The internet directions and the address I was aiming for did not match, as the streets did not connect....

Low on gas I hit the end of the road where it was meant to be where was a baptist church. I checked the doors on the grounds that even at a weird time on a Thursday afternoon in summer, you can sometimes catch altar guild ladies or bible study or what have you and the building was large and complicated and I couldn't tell if there was a rectory tucked away somewhere. I was exhausted hot, half panicked as I could not be sure where I was and was not all that clear where the Interstate was. I was not sanguine there was anyone there, as I didn't see cars out font, but the lot stretched behind so I gave it a shot anyway. This is the PNW, and I know full well if one looks distressed enough sometimes the act of looking obviously distressed will attract help. (This works particularly well when you are having car trouble and it is pissing down rain. Seriously folks, I live here for a Reason, and this is one of the benefits along with ideal climate until climate change started fucking with it, closeness to Canada, excellent laws, strong education system, social safety net, Queer friendliness, beauty of the landscape, access to civilized amenities....) The weather was hot and clear, but the hope was there. Doors were locked, but an elderly gentleman on a bike saw my distress an stopped. (Seriously. PNW). I braced myself for being evangelized, but I was happy to deal with that in exchange for him letting me follow him to the tires. He lived next door, so got his truck and took me there. (I didn't get the impression he was the preacher, though he may have been. He came off more like a true believer of the sort that hold those places together, especially in the middle of no where). I let him give me a new testament which he inscribed himself and let him evangelize me, and used proper church phrases. I am really good at this given my upbringing, even though obviously I did not have a baptist upbringing. I did my very best to give him all the gratefulness and interest i clearly owed him in exchange for his help. I did not tell him I had a much better translation of old and new testaments with apocrypha on my reference shelf which I keep handy for arguing with homophobes on the internet mostly. Episcopalian are hard core into Bible study, both my parents and my mother's mother were at various points vestry, mom and Grammy had both been church treasurers. My mom taught Sunday school, did bell choir, ran pageants, planning was a lector. Mom and Grammy were both on planning committees and the like at various times. All three of them were on various reverend searches. My Dad and I were in choir. I'd done Bible study pretty much since I was old enough for chapter books and went to a school with chapel three times a week where I had classes where we did things like comparative religion, bible study, history of monotheism, etc.. I was the only one in the Medieval Studies program in college who arrived with a working knowledge of Medieval heresy. My choice to break with monotheism was deeply considered and irrevocable, not out of bitterness and certainly not out of ignorance. Buddhism fit better for a host of reasons, and i am just not a theist.

But polite is polite and he went waaaaaay out of his way to help me and I really was grateful. I paid my coin in attention and good manners and took my new testament meekly. I had burned so much gas, I wasn't sure there was enough to get home, so I bought the very cheapest tires instead of second cheapest, but they looked sound, and drove well at 70 on the long flat stretch of the highway in moderate wind, and breaking and lane changes were noticeably better, so I felt like they were a pretty good deal all things considered. The man who took my money, was very likely one of my students the last two years I taught. He had a distinctive face and went to the right middle school. I gassed up and had a ridiculously easy time getting home, as the highway was RIGHT there, but the gas station down the road. If I'd known, I could have just gone north to that exit, made a right off the ramp, and another right, driven a bit and there it would have been. Fucking A! I'd have had the better tires, not had to gas up, and not had a frustrating, exhausting, and occasionally dangerous all afternoon country drive in the heat.

At least we know where it is now.

* Tavy update: I think he's finally turning into a cat, for which I am greatful. I don't just mean that he's adult shape and weight, though that is true. I've noticed he's settled down a lot in the last two weeks or so. nHis sleep/cuddle/play balance is more young adult cat than kitten, which is dramatically easier on me, given how extra he was when he arrived even for a kitten. He's more willing to entertain himself in less destructive ways while I am asleep or out of the apartment with toys, busy box, busy bag, and contents himself with stealing the half piece of paper towel I use to keep my next to the desk coaster from being overwhelmed by ice water sweat, instead of stealing entire rolls of paper toweling, tp, and or books to shred. (He really likes shredding.) I will happily sacrifice half a paper towel segment a day not to wake up to things shredded and broken all over the apartment. He's also been dramatically less violent with me in that two week span, something I've been working on since we got him. He loves wrestling, which involves launching himself at my forearm, digging teeth and claws in hard as he can and attempting to disembowel it with his hind leg, which really fucking hurts and does real damage. I happily offer diversions, such as toys he can maul, string, cat in bag, etc.., but until recently we had a minimum of a half hour a day where he persistently tries and frequently really hurts me. We're down to one or two attempts every few days, and he's way easier to divert. He' still too violent with Squirrel and LM, hence the limited contact between the cats. (No one likes being bitten, no matter how much he likes biting. He genuinely thinks he's playing). Squirrel refuses to be strict with him as far as the mauling goes, so I'm not sure how well things will generalize, but I am really hopeful seeing how much he's improving. I've also noticed how much better he's gotten over the course of the summer at compensating for his disability. He's such a sweet, cuddly little guy, and I'm really enjoying who he's growing up to be.

* Want to donate to the windshield wiper fund? (32$) Paypal Lethran@gmail.com

* So the town to the north of me has a road called "Dick Stone Lane." We assume it was named for some specific person, but Wednesday we decided "Dick Stone" ought to be the star in a noir porn parody. Dick Stone Private Dick! He should be based on Humphrey Bogart, obviously.

So this morning as I was getting dressed, I realized that it should clearly be based on the Maltese Falcon, because clearly Dick Stone needed to star in the Maltese Dildo as private dick, Hump Free Boggart. (I know backwards, but pun!) I can see the golden dildo being held aloft right now. Come on, you'd watch it. I could be hilarious and brilliant in the right hands! (Waggle brows).

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

* 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

* 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

* "Ill teenager found care after appeal:" http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-devon-30261980

* 14 Unarmed teenagers have been murdered by police in this country since Micheal Brown's murder. The police are waging war on unarmed children and are winning.

* "Unrest:" http://terminallysnarky.com/2014/11/30/unrest/

* "My Vassar College Faculty ID Makes Everything OK:" http://gawker.com/my-vassar-college-faculty-id-makes-everything-ok-1664133077

* No really, the Salvation Army uses your donations to campaign to have laws passed to Imprison or kill us: http://mouthbeef.tumblr.com/post/103998994177/the-salvation-army-militant-evangelicals-with-a

* 4 New Ebays Added: ( Cut for you pleasure: )


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

* The Crime of Being Young, Black, and Male:

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* The 1% want to cut social Security for people who worked for a living:

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* "In Miami Gardens, store video catches cops in the act:" http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/11/21/3769823_p2/in-miami-gardens-store-video-catches.html

"Tired of seeing his customers and employees harassed by police, a Miami Gardens storekeeper installed video cameras — and captured disturbing footage of police activity."

* "State Rep. Drew Darby charged with taking weapon to Austin Airport:" http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/crime-law/state-rep-drew-darby-charged-with-taking-weapon-to/nb2gg/

* "In Manhattan Alleys, Dogs on Rat Hunts Find Bags of Fun:" http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/22/nyregion/in-manhattan-alleys-owners-send-their-dogs-on-a-rat-hunt.html?adxnnl=1&ref=nyregion&adxnnlx=1385149394-KZmBRUqWwz3RGFtTlEt9NA&_r=0

* It's tumblr, so unverified, but this explanation of the "lost train" makes sense: http://triflesandparsnips.tumblr.com/post/67806072914/so-you-know-that-awesome-amtrak-septa-train-story

* "Comment: Justice elusive for female victims of violence:" http://minivannews.com/politics/comment-justice-elusive-for-female-victims-of-violence-72212

* "Petition For SPLC To Monitor Gender Identity Watch As A Hate Group:" http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2013/11/petition-for-splc-to-monitor-gender.html

* I was not able to sleep and I had to pick up meds and perishables, so I gave in and went to see an early showing of Catching Fire. It was objectively long, but subjectively exactly the length it needed to be. The bits that were cut were reasonable choices and the bits that needed to be there all were. Yes, I cried: Copiously for District 11, a tear or three in a couple spots later on. The film does everything I wanted it to do.

However, the theater experience was not what it ought to have been. No, I'm not talking about the teenaged girls. It's their movie and their space, so their rules. You know what though? Every single girl I saw in that theater complex was well behaved and I saw groups of them being textbook polite to staff.

No, the asshole was the father of the able bodied family that insisted on sitting next to me in the handicapped row. He didn't have to be there: His wife and his oldest daughter were perfectly capable of guarding the tween. It's a lot of money to spend on a movie you are going to be an asshole through because you don't want to be there. He wouldn't sit the fuck still. He was up and down constantly the first third, passing back and forth in front of me each time so as to block my view. Then he took a nap, which was less irritating, even though the occasional snores and startling awake startled me each time. Then he got out his phone to text through the last third, which meant not only changing coloured light out of the corner of my eye being distracting, but the constant bloops from incoming texts. There are benches outside. He could have gone out into to the corridor to sit on them instead of distracting me and generally being a dick. Yes, I get it was likely family movie night, but in his wife's place, I'd rather he not be poking me to look at his texts and generally disrespecting a movie that the daughters clearly wanted to see. Just saying.

Also, when will we decide as a culture that phones should be off in movie theaters? Because that needs to happen, like twenty years ago.

* Why am I commenting on shows from two weeks ago? Because I've been behind on TV since late October, so I'm still trying to catch up.

* Re: Lucy/Mina: When I first read the original Dracula novel as a young teen, I was aware of "Romantic Friendship" as a thing, but in my head, I still liked to think of them as rather more than friends. The text really can be read both ways, as people used Romantic Friendship as a cover for a deeper love than friendship back then. It could be both, and so I happily tucked away that bit of subtext in my head cannon. For all the hot mess of the Dracula show, this is something I'm really comfortable with and it does make me happy.

Also, is it just me, or is Renfield kind of hot? (Mmmmm, menswear). Especially when he's putting assholes in their place.

* Doctor Who Cakes: http://www.cakewrecks.com/home/2013/11/23/sunday-sweets-who-loves-ya.html

* Eric Holder is changing guidelines to Federal prosecutors so as to allow judges discretion on sentencing in drug crimes by leaving out drug amounts in the charges. What we really need is for Congress and the states to repeal mandatory minimums for non-violent drug offenses, but that's not going to happen.

* The Stop and Frisk ruling has complex results, and while technically a win, it's not going to stop the unconstitutional harassment of black and brown men in New York. I'm too disgusted to talk about it in depth, honestly.

* The Republicans in North Carolina are celebrating a major win in their War on the Right to Vote.

* "Massive excavation in Sussex spans 6000 years:" http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/08/2013/massive-excavation-in-sussex-spans-6000-years-of-time

* "Queens BEFORE Hatshepsut:" http://luxor-news.blogspot.ca/2013/08/queens-before-hatshepsut.html

* "Ancient man unearthed near No Mans Acres field in Hollingbourne:" http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent_messenger/news/bronze-age-man-talks-to-4223/

* "Gold and bronze artifacts found in 2,500-year-old tomb in Russia:" http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2013/08/07/Tomb-of-ancient-nomadic-noblewoman-found-in-southern-Russia/UPI-30221375919160/?spt=hs&or=sn

* "How Gaul-ing! Celebrating France's First Resistance Fighter:" http://www.npr.org/2013/08/08/209514127/how-gaul-ing-celebrating-frances-first-resistance-fighter

'Tis a silly piece and more about the myth than the man.

* "Vikings ‘ransacked Church gold for jewellery’:" http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/vikings-ransacked-church-gold-for-jewellery-238825.html

* "The day before death: A new archaeological technique gives insight into the day before death:" http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-08/uosd-tdb080913.php

* "Gold coin pendant 'a rare find':" http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-23602056

* "Crossrail tunnel project uncovers ancient burial ground - including Bedlam patients:" http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/crossrail-tunnel-project-uncovers-ancient-burial-ground--including-bedlam-patients-8751737.html

* The Ugly American strikes again. "Finger broken off Florence statue:" http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-23588462

* "NBJC Statetment On Bayard Rustin:" http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2013/08/nbjc-statetment-on-bayard-rustin.html

* Dragon Cave: