Nec Hoc Nec Ilud

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 News keeps moving fast, so some items may be already out of date.

---

* I think I need to say this again because of what is going on in my Tumblr notes. I am against the rape, torture, and murder of civilians, especially children REGARDLESS OF WHO IS DOING IT. Yes, that means Hamas. Yes, that means the IDF/Israeli government. It also means the US Military. It means ANYONE doing it.

I can be against it whoever is doing it.

Opposing Netanyahu for his horrific policies does not mean I hate Jewish people. Being against the things that were done to civilians on October 7 doesn't mean I hate all Palestinians, nor that I support genocide. I am very much against genocide whoever is doing it. See also my opinions on the Holocaust, what Russia is doing to Ukraine, the horrific shit my government and Canada's and Australia's did to indigenous people over centuries.

I can be against Netanyahu the way I am against Trump, Putin, and Viktor Orbán.

The Israeli government is a government. It is wrong and antisemitic to blame every Jewish person everywhere in the world for things they may not support and didn't have a say in unless they specifically support and/or voted for Likud or one of the right wing parties they coalition with. Jewish people inside and outside of Israel have been and are protesting war crimes the Israeli government has committed. It is possible to have a nuanced understanding of Israeli politics.

It strikes me as pretty weird to claim all Jewish people only have one opinion about everything and to call me antisemitic for opposing one particular politician for doing things that are harmful.

I do, in fact, want all hostages free, both the ones Hamas have and the ones the Israelis have. It sure looks to me and to a lot of people, including some rather vocal families of hostages, that Netanyahu has deliberately and repeatedly stood in the way of this happening for personal political gain and so that he can stay in power and out of jail for corruption he's credibly accused of.

My holding this opinion is very similar to my opinion of Donald Trump. Just saying.

I want Netanyahu out of power because that is the only way there is a chance of anything getting better in that part of West Asia. Which is the goal. I have been in favour of the two state solution since I was old enough to understand, which is longer than a lot of you have been alive, or at least longer than many of you have been old enough to follow the news. I have seen good and bad Israeli and Palestinian leaders come and go. I've seen Netanyahu break agreement after agreement over for decades whenever he's been in power. I don't trust him to make an agreement he will follow any more than I trust Trump to make one, especially when Netanyahu's personal agenda conflicts with that agreement, because that is how he has behaved over and over, including him not holding up his end of the ceasefire just recently.

My side is not that of one government, not even my own. My side is the greater good and the lets not murder children side. It pretty much always has been.

I'd love for the violence to be over. I'd love for everyone's kids to be safe. That's the side I'm on.

* "Israel fires on Lebanon after rocket attack in the heaviest exchange since the truce with Hezbollah:" https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-03-22-2025-32ca8fa2c5f6e887e1d51b9ffea6f836

* "Israel returns to war in Gaza with wider aims and almost no constraints:" https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-trump-iran-protests-bb504392b25e111e11a2ac1ecb8f4fc5

* "At least two people killed, 19 injured in Israeli strikes on Syria's Daraa:" https://archive.ph/u4Pr9

* "Al Jazeera journalist targeted in Gaza: 'If you're reading this, it means I've been killed':" https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2025/03/25/al-jazeera-journalist-targeted-in-gaza-if-you-re-reading-this-it-means-i-ve-been-killed_6739505_4.html

* "Israel Bombs Gaza’s Only Cancer Hospital as Genocide Continues to Escalate:" https://truthout.org/articles/israel-bombs-gazas-only-cancer-hospital-as-genocide-continues-to-escalate/

* "West Bank Palestinians displaced by Israel's military fear they'll never go home again:" https://www.npr.org/2025/03/20/g-s1-54280/west-bank-displaced-palestinians-israel-idf-military

* "Palestinians in Gaza protest against Hamas for a second day:" https://www.npr.org/2025/03/26/nx-s1-5340645/palestinians-protest-hamas-rule-in-gaza

******

* "EU says 'unconditional withdrawal' of Russia from Ukraine is a precondition to amend sanctions:" https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-says-unconditional-withdrawal-russia-ukraine-is-precondition-amend-sanctions-2025-03-26/

* Of course there are more conditions. "Kremlin says various conditions must be met before Black Sea security deal can be activated:" https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/kremlin-says-various-conditions-must-be-met-before-black-sea-security-deal-can-2025-03-26/

* Putin is playing Trump like a harp as usual and Trump continues to negotiate the cutting up Ukraine without involving Ukraine in the talks.

* "In Ukraine call, Putin furthers his goals and cedes little to Trump, say analysts:" https://archive.ph/KLtTB

* "Russia and US to discuss Black Sea shipping and Ukraine peace in Saudi Arabia:" https://archive.ph/caisN

* "Putin wants Trump to formally recognize all land Russia has taken in Ukraine, Kommersant reports:" https://archive.ph/mFjIy

* "How Trump’s policies have helped Russia and furthered Putin’s goals:" https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/how-trump-s-policies-have-helped-russia-and-furthered-putin-s-goals/ar-AA1BHkRP

* "Trump administration halts program to track abducted Ukrainian children, lawmakers say:" https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-administration-halts-program-track-abducted-ukrainian-children-lawmakers-2025-03-18/

* "As Trump cuts funding, Ukrainians wonder who will answer for kids abducted in war:" https://archive.ph/Ix1p2

* Things on Putin's wish list. "Musk Calls on US to Quit NATO, Stop Paying for Defense of Europe:" https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-09/musk-calls-on-us-to-quit-nato-stop-paying-for-defense-of-europe

* "Czech President Pavel was in Odesa as Russia pounded the city with drones:" https://archive.ph/pFgMa

* "3 people killed in Russian attacks on Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia despite truce talks:" https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-ceasefire-drones-zaporizhzhia-84dab972755f90ad7592a2a13758ed9c

* "Russian missile attack wounds 88 in Ukraine's Sumy, officials say:" https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-missile-attack-ukraines-sumy-injures-28-people-local-official-says-2025-03-24/

* "Western officials say Russia is behind a campaign of sabotage across Europe. This AP map shows it:" https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-europe-hybrid-campaign-d61887dd3ec6151adf354c5bd3e6273e

******

---

* "In Syria, Being Wanted Went From Something to Fear to a Badge of Honor:" https://archive.ph/8PVpd

* "Can One Man Hold Syria Together?:" https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2025/03/syria-assad-downfall-sharaa/682135/

* "Russia ships its Arctic oil to Syria for first time as sanctions limit buyers:" https://archive.ph/ePJe8

* "Erdoğan's endgame: outlawing the Turkish opposition:" https://www.metafilter.com/208141/Erdoans-endgame-outlawing-the-Turkish-opposition

* "Thousands join march in Turkiye’s Istanbul to protest mayor’s arrest:" https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/21/thousands-join-march-in-turkiyes-istanbul-to-protest-mayors-arrest

* "Huge pro-democracy protests grip Turkey after Erdogan rival is imprisoned: The detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu is widely viewed as politically motivated.:" https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/turkey-erdogan-protests-ekrem-imamoglu-prison-istanbul-mayor-rcna197925

* "Ministers unanimously vote no confidence in AG, beginning formal process to dismiss her: Justice minister claims Gali Baharav-Miara caused rift with government by blocking its policies; she says it ‘seeks to be above the law,’ wants unlimited power; demonstrations grow:" https://www.timesofisrael.com/ministers-unanimously-vote-no-confidence-in-ag-beginning-formal-process-to-dismiss-her/

* "The ‘ghost reporters’ writing pro-Russian propaganda in West Africa:" https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2025/3/20/the-ghost-reporters-writing-pro-russian-propaganda-in-west-africa

* "Greenland Solves Political Crisis Hours Before JD Vance Visit:" https://www.newsweek.com/greenland-solves-crisis-before-vance-visit-2051938

* "The Tech CEOs Who Want a DOGE for Canada:" https://thetyee.ca/News/2025/02/28/Tech-CEOs-DOGE-Canada/

Canadians! Do not follow us into the dark. If you aren't yet registered: https://www.elections.ca/content2.aspx?section=reg&document=index&lang=e

* "Canada aims for free internal trade that can offset any US tariffs, Carney says:" https://archive.ph/cGDGZ

* "No One Wants to Work? The Real Reason Boomers Are Wrong:"

( Embed: )

---

* "The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans:" https://archive.ph/xdRkf

* "As top Trump aides sent texts on Signal, flight data show a member of the group chat was in Russia:" https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-envoy-steve-witkoff-signal-text-group-chat-russia-putin/

* "Classified material laws and why experts say Signal chat raises concerns:" https://archive.ph/Tbe5c

* "Democrats call Trump intelligence officials' use of group chat "reckless, sloppy and stunning":" https://www.cbsnews.com/news/senate-intelligence-committee-worldwide-threats-hearing/

* "Gabbard questioned on participating in Signal chat where war plans allegedly leaked:" https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-gabbard-questioned-on-participating-in-signal-chat-where-war-plans-allegedly-leaked

* "'Holy crap on steroids!': Top Trump officials exposed in shocking, sloppy military security blunder:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/-holy-crap-on-steroids-top-trump-officials-exposed-in-shocking-sloppy-military-security-blunder-235260485849

* "Military plans group chat scandal fits pattern of Trump's embarrassing weakness on information security:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/war-plans-group-chat-scandal-fits-pattern-of-trump-s-embarrassing-weakness-on-information-security-235386437800

* "'Unheard of': Slotkin says Trump war plans breach endangers 'human beings':" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/-unheard-of-slotkin-says-trump-war-plans-breach-endangers-human-beings-235365957721

* "‘Sheer, unfettered, Olympian incompetence’: Hayes on the Trump war plans breach :" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/-sheer-unfettered-olympian-incompetence-hayes-on-the-trump-war-plans-breach-235364421753

* "Here Are the Attack Plans That Trump’s Advisers Shared on Signal:" https://archive.ph/vWtKn

* "Pete Buttigieg: Trump Cabinet's use of Signal app for military ops is ‘highest level of f**kup imaginable’:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/pete-buttigieg-trump-signal-security

* "Trump & Co Blame Journalist For Major National Security Slip Up:"

( Embed: )

* "Private Data and Passwords of Senior U.S. Security Officials Found Online:" https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/pete-hegseth-mike-waltz-tulsi-gabbard-private-data-and-passwords-of-senior-u-s-security-officials-found-online-a-14221f90-e5c2-48e5-bc63-10b705521fb7

* "‘Four-alarm fire’: Passwords for Hegseth, Gabbard and Waltz reportedly found online:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/-four-alarm-fire-passwords-for-hegseth-gabbard-waltz-reportedly-found-online-235480133798

* "Israel Supplied Intelligence in Airstrike Discussed in Signal Chat, Officials Say:" https://archive.ph/YDDHo

* "Allies wary of Trump admin's incompetence after scandal over military plan group chat:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/allies-wary-of-trump-admin-s-incompetence-after-scandal-over-military-plan-group-chat-235646533990

* "Judge orders government to preserve Signal messages about Houthi military strike:" https://www.npr.org/2025/03/28/g-s1-56821/signal-houthi-strike-chat-judge

* "Mike Waltz Under Fire After Leaving Venmo List Public: What To Know:" https://www.newsweek.com/mike-waltz-venmo-list-public-2051249

* "Trump officials shared military plans on a private app — 10 years after uproar over Hillary Clinton’s private server:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/10-years-hillary-clinton-server-trump-officials-military-plans-rcna197880

Republicans keep claiming Hillary having recipes and social stuff plus some things later designated sensitive on a private server is so much worse than inviting a reporter to a text chat on their private phones using a commercial app instead of a SCIF or the situation room, endangering the lives of military pilots and revealing an information source on the ground in Yemen.

Like, yes, she shouldn't have done that, but this is running a stop sign versus driving drunk at high speed the wrong direction on a highway.

They definitely knew they were doing the wrong thing because several of them attacked Hillary back in 2016 over her server and Matt Walz himself sent out warnings about Signal and threats against leakers days previously.

Why are the recipes "Lock her up" worthy, but this Republican clusterfuck isn't even worth a slap on the wrist?

* "What Rusting Russian Tanks Can Teach Us About the Pete Hegseth Group Chat:" https://archive.ph/GNe7C

* "Military plans group chat scandal fits pattern of Trump's embarrassing weakness on information security:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/war-plans-group-chat-scandal-fits-pattern-of-trump-s-embarrassing-weakness-on-information-security-235386437800

* "‘Where was the president?’: Hayes on Trump’s alarming absence amid war plans group chat:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/-where-was-the-president-hayes-on-trump-s-alarming-absence-amid-war-plans-group-chat-235478085667

* "'F---ing liar': Sen. Duckworth rips Pete Hegseth; calls for his resignation over group chat scandal:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/-f-ing-liar-sen-duckworth-rips-pete-hegseth-calls-for-his-resignation-over-group-chat-scandal-235500101599

* "‘Sound familiar?’: DHS staffer accidentally added reporter to email about ICE raids:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/-sound-familiar-dhs-staffer-accidentally-added-reporter-to-email-about-ice-raids-235620421884

* "The Real Outrage About the Yemen Signal Group Is That It Called for Attack on Civilian Home:" https://theintercept.com/2025/03/26/signal-chat-yemen-strike/?

* "Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Signalgate, Trump’s tariffs, and defending the LGBTQ+ community:" https://www.advocate.com/news/elizabeth-warren-signalgate-trump-musk

* "Texting War Plans = Illegal:"

( Embed: )

* "Scoop: Senate Dems propose sprawling Signal chat probe:" https://www.axios.com/2025/03/27/senate-democrats-signal-chat-probe

* "Sen. Mark Kelly shreds Hegseth for attack plans breach: ‘He crossed the line’:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/sen-mark-kelly-shreds-hegseth-for-attack-plans-breach-he-crossed-the-line-235747909799

* "Hegseth Brought His Wife to Sensitive Meetings With Foreign Military Officials:" https://archive.ph/615Pj

* "Denmark PM Mette Frederiksen says U.S. Greenland visits meant to cause 'pressure':" https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2025/03/25/Denmark-Greenland-denounce-Usha-Vance-visit/6201742904783/

* "VP Vance and his wife change up trip to Greenland amid protests:" https://www.npr.org/2025/03/26/nx-s1-5338629/vp-vance-and-his-wife-change-up-trip-to-greenland-amid-protests

* "Former Denmark Ambassador Rufus Gifford responds to VP Vance's 'not a good ally' comments:" https://www.advocate.com/news/denmark-rufus-gifford-jd-vance

* They made no friends and influenced people to despise us even more. "JD Vance blasts Denmark in visit to Greenland with wife Usha as Trump administration eyes territory:" https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jd-usha-vance-visit-greenland-most-greenlanders-dont-want-to-join-america/

* "'This is shameful': Trump sows animosity and mistrust abroad, degrading Americans in the process:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/-this-is-shameful-trump-sows-animosity-and-mistrust-abroad-degrading-americans-in-the-process-235758149579

* "Trump threatens a 25 percent tariff on countries that buy oil and gas from Venezuela:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/24/trump-tariff-venezuela-oil-00244832

How this will work with US companies using Venezuelan oil is a question.

* "Trump Says He Could Cut China Tariffs to Secure TikTok Deal:" https://archive.ph/DNx0x

* "Trump auto tariffs: President slaps 25% duties on car imports to US:" https://archive.ph/IWGvK

* "US decision to limit Canadian access to border-straddling library prompts outpouring of emotion:" https://apnews.com/article/canada-america-library-vermont-quebec-7c4851c705d18e0cc891c3ce085e15e4

* "US to end funding for childhood vaccines in poorest countries, document shows:" https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/trump-administration-end-funding-child-vaccines-developing-countries-new-york-2025-03-26/

So many people, particularly children will die.

* "Elon Musk won’t receive secret China briefings, Trump says:" https://archive.ph/zXhsc

This is why we need a robust media and why our out cry is helpful.

Stay Noisy.

* "Media reports prompt Trump to end plan to brief Musk on secret potential war plans for China:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/media-reports-prompt-trump-to-end-plan-to-brief-musk-on-secret-potential-war-plans-for-china-235108421909

* "How Elon Musk’s SpaceX Secretly Allows Investment From China:" https://www.propublica.org/article/elon-musk-spacex-allows-china-investment-cayman-islands-secrecy

* "Map Shows Countries With Visa Warnings About US:" https://www.newsweek.com/travel-visas-germany-uk-usa-denmark-finland-2048695

* "Trump's transgender rights rollbacks prompt allies to adjust travel warnings:" https://www.axios.com/2025/03/23/allies-issue-usa-travel-guidlines-transgender

* "If Trump didn’t sign the Alien Enemies Act proclamation, who — or what — did?:" https://archive.ph/N1ATk#selection-772.0-772.1

* "Trump floats sending Americans to foreign prisons. Civil rights groups say that would be illegal.:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/21/trump-foreign-prison-threats-civil-rights-groups-027162

You know how I said sending Venezuela refugees to El Salvador for 'crimes' like having a soccer team tattoo and being gay by labeling them gang member terrorists was a trial balloon for summary deportation of anyone Trump wants to with zero due process?

It was.

It's the same tactic the right wing always uses to steal civil liberties. Trans people are a tiny percentage of the population, so a lot of people don't know any personally. Trans people = low hanging fruit for the right. So they demonize trans people accusing even our children of being sex predators for just existing, then use the hate they whipped up over lies to ban books and anyone LGBTQIA+ from public spaces and claim anyone who disagrees is a pedophile, so that the people who should be standing up to Christo-facists abandon principle by principle until it's to late and the Right comes for them.

This is the same sort of thing, Round up a bunch of Venezualan refugees and rendition them without legal justification or due process while demonizing them to whip up hate they can use to move the Overton window towards fascist autocracy so they can do this to anyone they want.

Poof all civil liberties are gone. Refugees = low hanging fruit to the right.

Stand up NOW while you still can.

* "US judge blocks Trump administration from fast-tracking deportations:" https://archive.ph/Kj8vX

* "Judge Rejects Trump’s Request to Allow Deportations Under Wartime Law:" https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/judge-trump-alien-enemies-act-deportations/

* "Judge smacks down Trump DOJ: This court will not be ‘gaslit’:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/judge-smacks-down-trump-doj-this-court-will-not-be-gaslit-235097157508

* "Appeals court denies Trump’s bid to resume deportations under Alien Enemies Act:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/26/alien-enemies-act-trump-denied-court-00252157

* "Why federal judges have few tools to rein in Trump:" https://www.msnbc.com/jonathan-capehart/watch/why-federal-judges-have-few-tools-to-rein-in-trump-235126341779

* "Judge rebukes Justice Dept., raises due process questions in Alien Enemies Act deportation case:" https://www.cbsnews.com/news/judge-rebukes-justice-dept-due-process-alien-enemies-act-deportation-case/

* "We will deport you if we have evidence against you, and deport you if we do not :" https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/the-weekly-constitutional/69560/we-will-deport-you-if-we-have-evidence-against-you-and-if-we-do-not

* "Here are the names of the Venezuelans deported by the U.S. to El Salvador:" https://www.cbsnews.com/news/venezuelans-deported-el-salvador-names/

* "What the Venezuelans Deported to El Salvador Experienced:" https://time.com/7269604/el-salvador-photos-venezuelan-detainees/

* "Venezuelan migrant deported from U.S. to El Salvador has no criminal record, documents show:" https://www.cbsnews.com/news/venezuela-migrant-deported-el-salvador-no-criminal-record/

* "Deported soccer player wrongly accused of gang membership over tattoo, lawyer says:" https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/03/21/deported-soccer-player-venezuela-tattoo/82589688007/

* " Gay Venezuelan asylum-seeker ‘disappeared’ to Salvadoran mega-prison under Trump order, Maddow reveals :" https://www.advocate.com/news/gay-makeup-artist-deported-prison

I know I already posted the interview, but I want to remind people just how bullshit the Republican lies that these are all gang members are. This is WHY everyone needs do process. Yes, even people actually accused of crimes, because accusations aren't convictions. If he'd been allowed to go to his scheduled court hearing, he'd be here, not in mortal peril in a for profit prison with no over sight.

* "What the Hundreds of Venezuelans Trump Sent to El Salvador Are Up Against:" https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/03/venezuela-trump-deportation-el-salvador-prison-human-rights-cecot-due-process/

* "Why experts fear the men who were sent to El Salvador's megaprison may never make it out:" https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/venezuelans-deported-el-salvador-detention-abuses-rcna197125

* "“You’re Here Because of Your Tattoos”: The Trump administration sent Venezuelans to El Salvador’s most infamous prison. Their families are looking for answers. :" https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/03/trump-el-salvador-venezulea-deportation-prison-cecot-bukele/

* "'Incredible’: Trump admin reportedly deports man over autism awareness tattoo:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/-incredible-trump-admin-reportedly-deports-man-over-autism-awareness-tattoo-235625029616

* It also looks like we are sending refugees back to Venezuela where they will be in danger: "Venezuela reaches deal to accept deportation flights from U.S.:" https://www.cbsnews.com/news/venezuela-reaches-deal-to-accept-deportation-flights-from-u-s/

* "IRS close to finalizing data-sharing agreement with ICE, sources say:" https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/irs-close-finalizing-data-sharing-agreement-ice-sources/story?id=120063278

* "Rubio says U.S. may have pulled more than 300 visas:" https://www.axios.com/2025/03/27/rubio-state-department-more-than-300-visas

* "Columbia University protester Khalil remains jailed while judge weighs case transfer:" https://archive.ph/4jD5z

* "Cornell student activist asked to surrender to ICE:" https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/momodou-taal-cornell-student-activist-surrender-ice-rcna197604

* "Federal judge orders ICE not to remove immigration activist Jeanette Vizguerra:" https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/federal-judge-orders-ice-not-remove-immigration-activist-jeanette-vizguerra/

* "Visa renewal leads to Arizona ICE detention for Canadian actress:" https://www.azfamily.com/2025/03/21/visa-renewal-leads-arizona-ice-detention-canadian-actress/

* "Turkish student at Tufts University detained, video shows masked people handcuffing her:" https://apnews.com/article/tufts-student-detained-massachusetts-immigration-6c3978da98a8d0f39ab311e092ffd892

* "‘Flatly authoritarian’: New video shows masked agents arresting Tufts student:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/-flatly-authoritarian-new-video-shows-masked-agents-arresting-tufts-student-235484229584

The Secret police had their faces covered and grabbed her without identifying themselves. When challenged they eventually said what agency they were from but didn't show proof or give their names.

They did this terrible thing because of her political views in clear violation of her 1st Amendment rights.

* "US judge halts deportation of Turkish student at Tufts:" https://archive.ph/gzNXj

* "‘ICE kidnapped our neighbor’: Outrage at arrest of Tufts student spreads as lawmakers demand answers:" https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2025/03/28/ice-kidnapped-our-neighbor-outrage-at-arrest-of-tufts-student-spreads-as-lawmakers-demand-answers/

* "'Absolutely unconstitutional': attorney for abducted Tufts student Rümeysa Öztürk speaks out on her detainment:" https://www.msnbc.com/ayman-mohyeldin/watch/-absolutely-unconstitutional-attorney-for-abducted-tufts-student-rumeysa-ozturk-speaks-out-on-her-detainment-235779653738

* Rubio's such a horrible person that he's proud of it. "Rubio confirms he revoked Tufts student's visa, says he pulls visas 'every day':" https://www.wbur.org/news/2025/03/27/tufts-student-deportation-court-order

* "Russian medical researcher at Harvard, who protested the Ukraine war, detained by ICE:" https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/russian-medical-researcher-harvard-protested-ukraine-war-detained-ice-rcna198528

She broke no laws in the United States and will be in danger if returned to Russia because of her opposition to their invasion of Ukraine.

* "ICE detains University of Alabama doctoral student as government's college crackdown continues:" https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/university-alabama-doctoral-student-detained-ice-governments-college-c-rcna198320

* "Columbia student protester can’t be detained for now as she fights deportation, judge rules:" https://apnews.com/article/university-protests-palestinian-immigration-2d7bd689b013b8bb6300fd6ab54de933

* "A look at who has been detained or deported in a US crackdown on pro-Palestinian protesters:" https://apnews.com/article/immigration-detainees-students-ozturk-khalil-78f544fb2c8b593c88a0c1f0e0ad9c5f

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

* Shameful that we are doing this. Shameful and Cruel. These are refugees. "They did things ‘the right way.’ Now Trump is turning them into undocumented migrants | Opinion:" https://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/article302686929.html

* "Judge orders release of Venezuelan couple caught up in Trump gang crackdown:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/28/venezuelan-couple-release-00258414

Another bullshit illegal deportation attempt based on Government lies.

* "Courts smack down Trump's signature program; Americans instantly outraged over street snatchings:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/courts-smack-down-trump-s-signature-program-americans-instantly-outraged-over-street-snatchings-235756101583

* "Trump Administration Aims to Bring Back Detention Centers for Immigrant Kids:" https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-21/trump-administration-plans-detention-centers-for-migrant-children

* "DHS shuts down internal watchdog agencies that advocated for immigrants:" https://archive.ph/q7CP9

* CW: CSA. Cruelty is the point. "Legal groups helping immigrant children who survived sex trafficking, abuse sue to regain federal funding:" https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/hhs-federal-funding-cuts-sex-abuse-child-trafficking-immigrants-rcna198602

* "Immigrant Children as Young as 2 Years Old Are Now Expected to Represent Themselves After Federal Funding Cut, Attorneys Say:" https://www.latintimes.com/immigrant-children-young-2-years-old-are-now-expected-represent-themselves-after-federal-funding-579387

* "Immigrant advocates protest inhumane conditions in Baltimore ICE detention facility:" https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/maryland-immigration-ice-detention-facility-conditions/

* "'Soul of democracy': Hundreds protest ICE detaining workers:" https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/ice-arrests-spark-protest-at-tacoma-immigration-detention-center/

* "Liberals Have Been Waiting for This Moment Since Trump Took Office. They Need to Act Now.:" https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/03/donald-trump-news-rumeysa-ozturk-arrest-tufts-student-protest.html

* "'Felt like a kidnapping': Wrong turn leads to 5-day detention ordeal:" https://www.npr.org/2025/03/26/nx-s1-5335524/wrong-turn-bridge-detention-ordeal

* "Trump Team Claims it Made Billions Off a Gold Card That Doesn’t Exist:" https://newrepublic.com/post/193160/donald-trump-commerce-howard-lutnick-us-residency-gold-cards

---

* "Convicted of bilking investors, Nikola founder and Trump donor gets a presidential pardon:" https://apnews.com/article/nikola-trevor-milton-fraud-trump-pardon-3fcebb0a3820cecb205656f2dc3f6764

* "Concerns about espionage rise as Trump and Musk fire thousands of federal workers:" https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-espionage-doge-032d2eb798e4d9d97ea7c5d6dc2ecf93

* "Appeals court refuses to halt an order for the rehiring of thousands of fired federal workers:" https://apnews.com/article/trump-mass-firings-probationary-workers-b96a01e7460321df8b9d500f922ba257

* "Indeed report: Job applications from agencies targeted by DOGE surge:" https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2025/03/25/federal-work-DOGE-Trump-job/2641742910254/

* "Resistance is alive and well in the United States:" https://wagingnonviolence.org/2025/03/resistance-alive-well-us/

* "47 signs spotted at anti-Trump/Musk protests:" https://www.reuters.com/pictures/47-signs-spotted-anti-trumpmusk-protests-2025-03-21/

* "Anti-Elon Musk protests held at Tesla dealerships:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/live-blog/tesla-elon-musk-anti-trump-protests-rcna198708

* Do I smell desperation? "Musk deploys squandered credibility in desperate bid to hold ailing Tesla together:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/musk-deploys-squandered-credibility-in-desperate-bid-to-hold-ailing-tesla-together-235111493549

* "From Seattle to Miami, anti-Musk protesters gather at hundreds of Tesla locations:" https://www.npr.org/2025/03/29/nx-s1-5343986/anti-musk-protests-planned-worldwide

* "Pam Bondi warns Jasmine Crockett to ‘tread very carefully’ in what she says about Elon Musk:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/23/bondi-jasmine-crockett-musk-tesla-protests-00244256

* "The FBI Is Investigating Attacks on Tesla as ‘Domestic Terrorism.’ Here’s Why That Matters:" https://www.wired.com/story/fbi-tesla-arson-domestic-terrorism-protests/

* Unlike protesting Tesla/Musk, this attack is actual terrorism. "Florida man accused of driving toward anti-Musk protesters at Tesla dealership is charged with assault:" https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/man-charged-assault-tesla-dealership-driving-car-protesters-rcna197746

* "Protesters in cities across the US rally against Trump’s policies, Project 2025 and Elon Musk:" https://apnews.com/article/50501-protests-project-2025-trump-state-capitols-ddd341171a54ba9b498cbfe7530e18ab

* "Trump Order Could Disenfranchise Millions of Voters :" https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/trump-voting-elections-executive-order/

The details are scary and blatantly unconstitutional, but I don't trust we still have rule of law.

It over rides the constitutionally protected right of states to run their election, throws out millions of legally cast votes, and puts the entire election in the hands of the President.

Basically, it's a way to let Trump and Republican successors finally put an end to free and fair elections while still pretending to hold them, like the other autocrats generally do.

They win this, Democracy is likely finished in the United States for my lifetime.

* "DOGE’s Supposed Savings Are About to Cost the U.S. a Lot of Money:" https://newrepublic.com/post/193093/irs-revenue-elon-musk-doge-cuts

The IRS collects taxes. If you decimate the IRS, they can't go after rich tax cheats, since that takes lots of hours of work by skilled auditors.

To give an idea of how much not collecting taxes from billionaires is going to cost, one of the people recently laid off by billionaire Elon Musk in the name of "efficiency" personally won back more than 8 million dollars over the years. (This isn't from this article, but from Msnbc reporting... last week? Maybe the week before. Anyway, it stuck in my head as illustrative).

Basically, IRS auditors make back way more money than it costs to pay them. The more money we invest in auditors, the more money rich people refuse to pay that they owe goes back into the treasury.

Every time Republicans cut the IRS budget and clain it's for cost saving, they are lying. It is always about the rich, who are already not paying their share getting to illegally pay even less, while people who actually work and pay their taxes get more and more of the social safety net ripped away from them.

* "DOGE stimulus checks: Here's why Americans may not receive the full $5,000 amount:" https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/2025/03/28/doge-stimulus-checks-not-full-5000-dollars-amount-musk-trump/82704076007/
The original plan was to only give them to middle class and higher income people, instead of the people who's services are being cut as a result of the cruel and often illegal cuts.

Now they are saying maybe they will have to be smaller because they aren't really saving much money.

I will believe these supposed stimulus checks when I see them. It sounds a lot like lies they told to make killing Social Security go down easier as if a small one time payment most people on social security won't even get will make of for all the people becoming homeless when their rent money doesn't arrive.

* "Exclusive: DOGE staffer 'Big Balls' provided tech support to cybercrime ring, records show:" https://www.reuters.com/world/us/doge-staffer-big-balls-provided-tech-support-cybercrime-ring-records-show-2025-03-26/?

* Originally, they announced they were shutting it because the judge told them they had to stop mining your private data. Stay noisy. It matters. "Acting Social Security chief now says he won't shut down agency after DOGE ruling:" https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/acting-social-security-chief-now-shut-agency-after/story?id=120046608

* "Social Security rushing service cuts at White House request, sources say:" https://www.axios.com/2025/03/24/social-security-cuts-doge

They have postponed smashing Social Security until Monday on the grounds they did zero trainings, fired the people that would be writing the program that doesn't exist yet, so... Yeah.

There is a rush to do it as, if the agency is still functional on April 2, they will have to actually send people their money and the Republicans absolutely don't want to do that, hence them aiming for the 1st of the month.

UPDATE: They were forced to postpone until the 14th. Keep complaining.

* "Why DOGE is struggling to find fraud in Social Security:" https://archive.ph/iAMdN

Hint: The fraud rate is less than one percent and the dead people collecting checks are imaginary.

* Ya Think? "The Social Security Administration's many proposed changes are worrying advocates:" https://www.npr.org/2025/03/22/nx-s1-5320263/social-security-administration-changes-identity-office

* "10,000 Social Security Administration workers could accept buyout offer, former commissioner says:" https://www.cbsnews.com/news/social-security-administration-voluntary-separation-incentive-payment/

* "Seniors won't complain if they miss a Social Security check, Lutnick says:" https://www.axios.com/2025/03/21/social-security-lutnick-doge-checks

So the argument is, if you complain because you need your social security money for rent, electricity, etc. and they stole it, you are a fraudster who doesn't deserve it, and if you are rich enough not to need it so you wait and don't complain you doesn't need it and shouldn't get it, therefore no one should get the social security payments they earned and need to survive.

Welcome to Catch 22.

see also, this is why people who have never been actually poor in their lives should be allowed into positions of power where they can do this kind of harm.

I am completely fucked if my check doesn't come. They start assessing late fees for housing after seven days. The Bank fee for this auto-withdraw will likely overdraw my account. No gas, no electricity. My insurance will try to auto-withdraw mid-month causing bank fees to continue to grow exponentially. I am contractually required to have insurance on my apartment. I can't cancel it. I can't drive without gas or car insurance and I am disabled with very limited mobility. A bus pass costs about a months gas an requires lots of walking I can't do or someone else doing a lot of walking pushing my in a chair because my arms are fucked too.

No supplemental food or medical supplies or cleaning stuff or toilet paper or things the cats absolutely need. No credit card or other bill payments.

Not paying any bills for one month would dig me into a hole I could never get out of. With all the staff cuts and closures, how many months would it take to get reinstated? Will I automatically be labelled a fraudster and be denied reinstatement for the crime of being to poor to float all my bills for months?

* "Missed Social Security checks no big deal to Trump commerce secretary as attacks on agency escalate:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/missed-social-security-checks-no-big-deal-to-trump-commerce-secretary-as-attacks-on-agency-escalate-235110981853

* "Trump official doubts seniors would mind if their Social Security checks stopped:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/trump-official-doubts-seniors-would-mind-if-their-social-security-checks-stopped-235096133996

I beg of you complain and/or protest now. People will die.

* Keep complaining. It's slowing them down. "Social Security backs off plan to cut phone services after backlash:" https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/mar/26/social-security-backs-off-plan-to-cut-phone-servic/

* "New Social Security clawback policy starts this week: What to know:" https://thehill.com/homenews/5215878-new-social-security-clawback-policy-starts-this-week-what-to-know/

This is usually mistakes, not fraud, sometimes on the part of the agency. Taking 100% means some people will be homeless.

* "Trump's Social Security check change could affect half a million Americans:" https://www.axios.com/2025/03/26/trump-social-security-paper-checks-direct-deposit

The change in payment method is designed to harm the poorest and most vulnerable recipients, because of course it is.

* "‘It is wrong’: Warren sounds off on the Trump-Musk attack on Social Security:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/-it-is-wrong-warren-sounds-off-on-the-trump-musk-attack-on-social-security-235367493850

* "Social Security official ended program for Maine newborns because he was ‘ticked’ at Mills:" https://www.pressherald.com/2025/03/25/social-security-official-ended-program-for-maine-newborns-because-he-was-ticked-at-mills/

So he decided to not automatically register the social security numbers of newborns, forcing the exhausted parents to go through hoops for something that should be simple because he's a misogynist and transphobe

* ":" https://www.advocate.com/voices/trump-musk-dismantle-social-security

* "'Cycle of doom': Social Security degradation evident as Trump cuts and changes cause feedback loop:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/-cycle-of-doom-social-security-degradation-evident-as-trump-cuts-and-changes-cause-feedback-loop-235384901689

* "Demonstrators rally against plan to cut 7,000 Social Security workers:" https://pix11.com/news/local-news/demonstrators-rally-against-plan-to-cut-7000-social-security-workers/

* "New political leadership: Regular Americans show how to stand up to Trump as political leaders fail:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/new-political-leadership-regular-americans-show-how-to-stand-up-to-trump-as-political-leaders-fail-235651653560

* Presumably because Republicans feel that they aren't killing women fast enough by denying them life saving health care in some states. "Anti-abortion groups aim to end Planned Parenthood funding and suggest Musk’s DOGE to get it done:" https://apnews.com/article/abortion-medicaid-trump-planned-parenthood-supreme-court-c512ec676b99d521d240bedeb7f85574

* "About 200 people rally against potential cuts to Medicaid in downtown Yakima:" https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/about-200-people-rally-against-potential-cuts-to-medicaid-in-downtown-yakima/article_3766b3da-00b7-4df7-ae18-d22d1dae519d.html

* "Federal judge prevents Trump administration from dismantling CFPB:" https://www.npr.org/2025/03/28/nx-s1-5315118/cfpb-shuttering-trump-doge

* "Elon Musk throws weight behind merging FTC and DOJ antitrust units:" https://archive.ph/nkuBj

* "Trump's firing of FTC commissioners speaks volumes about his love for billionaires:" https://www.msnbc.com/ayman-mohyeldin/watch/trump-s-firing-of-ftc-commissioners-speaks-volumes-about-his-love-for-billionaires-235159621742

* "Trump's firing of FTC commissioners speaks volumes about his love for billionaires:" https://www.msnbc.com/ayman-mohyeldin/watch/trump-s-firing-of-ftc-commissioners-speaks-volumes-about-his-love-for-billionaires-235159621742

* "‘Elon Musk is playing with fire—but he’ll never get burned’: Michael Lewis:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/-elon-musk-is-playing-with-fire-but-he-ll-never-get-burned-michael-lewis-234994245830

* "White House Reveals How Trump Could Buy More Bitcoin—Priming A Price Earthquake:" https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2025/03/22/white-house-reveals-how-trump-could-buy-more-bitcoin-priming-a-price-earthquake/

The goal is to drain the treasury of valuable assets to give Trump and a handful of his mega-donors by buying up their scam bitcoin. This will be a massive transfer of taxpayer money directly into the pockets of billionaires.

* This is NOT a coincidence: "Trump family crypto venture to launch a stablecoin:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/25/trump-family-crypto-venture-to-launch-a-stablecoin-00247455

* Now is a great time to tell your Senator's to oppose Cynthia Lummis' Crypto bill.

* Which was of course the goal. "Civil rights groups say push to dismantle Education Department will undo hard-won gains:" https://apnews.com/article/trump-department-of-education-closure-civil-rights-4c5f4e8347dd3318d2f23ad8632d7b74

* "Trump administration transferring student loan, nutrition programs out of Education Dept:" https://archive.ph/iytkd

The SBA is a lot smaller than the education Department and is already swamped. They have zero experience doing any of this.

Students Loans and Grants are how nearly everyone not born so rich they can pay cash upfront goes to college. Clogging this system to uselessness stops a whole lot of talented and hard working people from getting degrees.

Kids can't learn very well if they are too hungry to con concentrate. starving them of essential nutrients causes long term learning delays and health issues. This is designed to keep the children of the poor sick and poor and combined with strangling the student loan program is a way to deny them a life time of opportunities.

This is the rich pulling up the ladder of success after them to prevent everyone else achieving a decent standard of living.

* Bonus they are dumping this on the SBA while slashing it to ribbons as part of their plan to crush small businesses to help the Billionaires who bought Trump:

"Small Business Administration plans to slash staff by over 40 percent amid agency-wide reorganization:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/21/small-business-administration-job-cuts-00003736

* How to in post. "hey it's probably a really good idea to download a copy of your Master Promissory Note:" https://www.tumblr.com/becausegoodheroesdeservekidneys/778806373433720832

* "So What Exactly Is Going On With Student Loans?:" https://slate.com/life/2025/03/trump-news-department-of-education-order-means-chaos-for-student-loans.html

* "Latest Trump cuts put summer reading, mobile libraries and local museums in jeopardy:" https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/03/20/trump-order-library-museum-federal-employee-leave/82572108007/

* "'Deeply outraged': Mayor Justin Bibb slams Trump administration for cutting 553K pounds of food for Greater Cleveland Food Bank:" https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/local/cleveland/greater-cleveland-food-bank-president-donald-trump-administration-cancel-order-mayor-justin-bibb-usda/95-fad2bf18-a66b-4c1f-8859-d3e22694e486

* They are obeying in advance. "Columbia bows to Trump administration, hoping to restore federal funding:" https://gothamist.com/news/columbia-bows-to-trump-administration-hoping-to-restore-federal-funding

* They are obeying in advance. "Legal community shaken by a powerful law firm's decision to give in to Trump's demands:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/legal-community-shaken-powerful-law-firm-paul-weiss-trump-rcna197490

* Perkins Coie is not and they are doing the right thing. If no one stands up now, no law firm is likely to ever stand up to Trump again. "Legal organizations alarmed over Trump’s targeting of Seattle law firm Perkins Coie:" https://www.opb.org/article/2025/03/16/seattle-legal-organizations-perkins-coie/

* "DOJ moves to boot federal judge from Perkins Coie case:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/21/doj-federal-judge-perkins-coie-case-00243928

* "One Firm Fights; One Firm Forfeits ft. Liz Dye:"

( Embed: )

* "Trump executive order targets law firm challenging anti-trans policies:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/trump-targets-jenner-block

* This looks illegal on it's face. Apparently judges are agreeing "In back-to-back rulings, federal judges rule against Trump orders targeting law firms:" https://www.npr.org/2025/03/28/g-s1-56890/law-firms-sue-trump

* "Major law firm strikes preemptive deal with White House:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/28/skadden-arps-trump-law-deal-028324

* ...And another law firm caves so that's 2 fought and won, one still fighting, and two caved in advance.

* "America Is Watching the Rise of a Dual State: For most people, the courts will continue to operate as usual—until they don’t.:" https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2025/05/trump-executive-order-lawlessness-constitutional-crisis/682112/

* "Judge says Justice Department attacked her character to ‘impugn the integrity’ of US judicial system:" https://apnews.com/article/trump-judiciary-executive-power-lawsuits-547ba740ad8689c8b8bd80291d2f4ad0

* "Trump appoints former personal attorney Alina Habba as US attorney for New Jersey:" https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-appoints-alina-habba-us-attorney-new-jersey/story?id=120099632

* "USDA halts millions of dollars worth of deliveries to food banks:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/19/usda-halts-deliveries-food-banks-trump-00239453

You realize that without this, there will be hardly any protein, right?

Reminder: We have so much extra money that we have wasted 18.2 million dollars on Trump's golf outing as of last week. Why is that a better use of taxpayer money then helping farmers and feeding people?

* "School Lunches Should Be Free:"

( Embed: )

* "Protests Break Out Across US Over Plans To Change Postal Service:" https://www.newsweek.com/protests-plans-change-postal-service-2049406

* "US Postmaster General DeJoy steps down:" https://archive.ph/AGasQ

* Republicans decided we should no longer "waste money" on weather balloons used to track hurricanes in Tornado alley amoung other things. "National Weather Service Suspends Critical Service Again Amid DOGE Cuts:" https://www.newsweek.com/national-weather-service-suspends-critical-service-again-amid-doge-cuts-2048313

* "Fired National Park Service Staff Will Be Reinstated, but Long-Term Threats Loom:" https://insideclimatenews.org/news/21032025/todays-climate-fired-national-parks-workers-reinstated/

* "Protesters descend on Yosemite, Channel Islands and 91 other national parks:" https://www.sfgate.com/california-parks/article/protests-national-parks-budget-20234508.php

* "Mount Rainier rally part of nationwide push to protect parks, federal workers:" https://www.king5.com/article/news/national/mount-rainier-rally-nationwide-push-to-protect-parks-federal-workers-washington/281-9fd675cc-5907-4965-82f2-dda739c1bca2

* "Protesters gathered outside Great Smoky Mountains National Park amid federal cuts:" https://www.wate.com/news/smoky-mountains/protesters-gathered-outside-great-smoky-mountains-national-park-amid-federal-cuts/

* "As Americans Protest Attacks on Public Lands, Trump Signals National Monuments May be Shrunk or Eliminated:" https://insideclimatenews.org/news/18032025/trump-administration-attacks-national-monuments-protests/

* "Kristi Noem to Trump’s Cabinet: I’m ‘Going to Eliminate’ FEMA:" https://www.thedailybeast.com/kristi-noem-to-trumps-cabinet-im-going-to-eliminate-fema/

* "Trump wants FEMA gone. But that could be its own kind of disaster.:" https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/kristi-noem-fema-donald-trump-rcna198190

* "“This man is not our boss” — EPA workers rally against DOGE cuts:" https://www.theverge.com/news/635710/doge-musk-trump-environmental-protection-agency-epa

* "EPA employees rally in Denver against President Trump’s job and funding cuts:" https://www.cpr.org/2025/03/26/epa-employees-rally-in-denver-against-president-trumps-job-and-funding-cuts/

* Yet they are purging all these extremely competent people at the top based entirely on skin colour or gender to make room for mediocre or worse white men."Hegseth Brings in Emotional Support Brother as Pentagon Aide:" https://www.thedailybeast.com/hegseth-brings-in-emotional-support-brother-as-pentagon-aide/

* "Protestors outside Neal Dunn’s info session believe that Veterans Association cuts are unjust:" https://www.wjhg.com/2025/03/23/protestors-outside-neal-dunns-info-session-believe-that-verterans-association-cuts-are-unjust/

* "Veterans becoming face of Trump’s government cuts and Democrats’ resistance:" https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/veterans-becoming-face-of-trumps-government-cuts-and-democrats-resistance

* "Another judge blocks the Pentagon from implementing Trump's transgender military ban:" https://www.advocate.com/news/transgender-military-ban-injunction

* "BREAKING: Judge reinstates nationwide stop to Trump’s trans military ban:" https://www.advocate.com/news/trans-military-ban-injunction-reinstated

* "​Internet drags Pete Hegseth after he mocked judge who blocked Trump's trans military ban:" https://www.advocate.com/news/pete-hegseth-dragged-mocking-judge#rebelltitem5

* "Congress members denounce VA's end to gender-affirming care, demand answers:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/congress-members-condemn-va

* "Opinion | The DEI Purge Will Weaken Our Military:" https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/03/19/dei-pentagon-hegseth-trump-00236799

* "DOD removed pages that referenced the Holocaust, then restored at least one:" https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/dod-pages-dei-holocaust/

* "Trump administration scrubs 'Golden Girls' star's Marine Corps contributions in latest DEI purge:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/trump-bea-arthur-golden-girls-dei

* "These are the US military's diversity photos Trump doesn't want you to see:" https://www.aol.com/us-militarys-diversity-photos-trump-093001345.html

* Nearly all our Domestic Terrorists are Republican, so.... "Trump administration cuts national database tracking domestic terrorism:" https://archive.ph/dArH6#selection-558.0-558.1

* Mine's up in threeish years. "Trump’s Gender Order Won’t Affect Existing Passports — Unless They’re Renewed:" https://www.notus.org/whitehouse/trump-gender-sex-order-passports

* "Trump vs. Maine: State refuses anti-trans sports policies as federal agencies push to cut funding:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/trump-vs-maine-explained

* "DO THIS: Oppose Trump administration move to ban trans health care coverage in the ACA:" https://solarbird.dreamwidth.org/2030901.html

Direct Link to Comment: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/03/19/2025-04083/patient-protection-and-affordable-care-act-marketplace-integrity-and-affordability

* NYU Obeyed in advance. "‘Climate of fear’: Montreal doctor says NYU cancelled her presentation:" https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/climate-of-fear-montreal-doctor-says-nyu-cancelled-her-presentation/

* I may have missed this, so I'm posting it. "CDC orders mass retraction and revision of submitted research across all science and medicine journals. Banned terms must be scrubbed.:" https://insidemedicine.substack.com/p/breaking-news-cdc-orders-mass-retraction

* "U.S. health department plans to slash 10,000 jobs as RFK Jr. upends agencies:" https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/27/rfk-jr-plans-10000-hhs-job-cuts.html

* I know I keep saying this, but so many people are going to die because of RFKJr's policies.

* "US pulls back $12 billion in funding to state health departments:" https://archive.ph/oLqwH

* "$160M in WA health funding axed by Trump administration:" https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/03/27/160m-in-wa-health-funding-axed-by-trump-administration-cuts/

* "CDC is pulling back $11B in Covid funding sent to health departments across the U.S.:" https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/cdc-pulling-back-11b-covid-funding-sent-health-departments-us-rcna198006

* NOTE: not all the grants. "NIH restores some long COVID grants:" https://cen.acs.org/policy/research-funding/NIH-restores-long-COVID-grants/103/web/2025/03

* RFK Jr.'s disinformation campaign is doing a massive amount of damage. "Growing measles outbreak in Texas pushes U.S. cases above 520:" https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/texas-measles-outbreak-grows-us-cases-rcna198557

Not vaccinating children who can be safely vaccinated is child abuse, in my opinion.

* "The CDC Buried a Measles Forecast That Stressed the Need for Vaccinations:" https://www.propublica.org/article/measles-vaccine-rfk-cdc-report

* Because RFK Jr. lied about vitamin A, people are now damaging their children's livers rather than give the safe vaccines. "West Texas children treated for vitamin A toxicity as medical disinformation spreads alongside measles outbreak:" https://www.tpr.org/public-health/2025-03-27/west-texas-children-treated-for-vitamin-a-toxicity-as-medical-disinformation-spreads-alongside-measles-outbreak

* "Why I left my job leading public health messaging for the CDC: Public health policy must be guided by facts and not fantasy.:" https://archive.ph/rx1KR

* "The top FDA vaccine official is forced out, cites RFK Jr.'s 'misinformation and lies':" https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/03/28/nx-s1-5344010/fda-peter-marks-rfk-jr

* "RFK Jr. to shut down HHS Office of Infectious Diseases & HIV Policy:" https://www.advocate.com/health/office-infectious-diseases-hiv-closing

* "The War on Poppers Started Long Before RFK Jr. Took Over HHS :" https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/popper-drug-crackdown-rfk-lgbtq-1235299650/

* "POPPERS 101 and HIV/AIDS Dropped by CDC:"

( Embed: )

* And now for some bonus RFK Jr. body shaming and assholery: "RFK Jr. Tells Governor to His Face He Needs to Lose 30 Pounds:" https://www.newsweek.com/rfk-jr-west-virginia-governor-patrick-morrisey-weight-2052287

* EBT/SNAP is not HHS, but the Agriculture Department/USDA. "RFK Jr.'s food stamp plan fuels tension with USDA:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/27/rfk-jr-food-stamps-soda-usda-tension-00252045

* "Vaccine skeptic hired to head federal study of immunizations and autism:" https://archive.ph/4nc3I

There is no link. It's been proved over and over.

We are not only wasting time and money on this we could be spending vaccinating kids in the middle of a measles epidemic, but we aren't hiring a scientist to run it, but a propagandist.

* "Voice of America wins in court, for now, as judge blocks Trump administration from firing staff:" https://apnews.com/article/voice-of-america-trump-a1ed0ad37917055a1565da5325bd4fd8

* "Radio Free Europe says Trump administration rescinded its grant termination order:" https://archive.ph/ccFBJ

* "Trump signs order to ‘remove improper ideology’ from Smithsonian museums and zoo:" https://apnews.com/live/donald-trump-news-updates-3-27-2025

* "Critics see Trump attacks on the ‘Black Smithsonian’ as an effort to sanitize racism in US history:" https://apnews.com/article/trump-black-history-smithsonian-dei-687fd306dc9c6d7611300d74fe49b8aa

* "Trump directs JD Vance to go after ‘woke zoos’ :" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/trump-directs-jd-vance-to-go-after-woke-zoos-235744325555

* "Donald Trump's Spiritual Advisor Faces Christian Backlash:" https://www.newsweek.com/paula-white-cain-christians-donald-trump-2050102

* "Trump has big dreams for the Kennedy Center but doesn't seem to know what it does:" https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/trump-kennedy-center-audience-rcna197179

* "Trump calls on Polis to remove ‘purposefully distorted’ portrait of himself hanging in the Colorado capitol:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/24/trump-portrait-colorado-polis-00244561

* "Some underreported news and the return of Your Moment of Zen:" https://solarbird.dreamwidth.org/2031467.html

---

* "Trump asks Supreme Court for OK to cut teacher-training money as part of anti-DEI push:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/26/trump-supreme-court-teacher-training-00251211

* "Trump administration asks Supreme Court to allow mass firings of probationary workers:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/24/trump-supreme-court-fired-probationary-workers-00244890

* "Supreme Court upholds Biden rule requiring serial numbers and background checks for ghost guns:" https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-ghost-guns-bf404db1d4ece56203c8748b2544dc02

* "Supreme Court takes up case claiming Obamacare promotes “homosexual behavior”: The Texas plaintiffs say requiring workplace insurers to provide PrEP violates their religious beliefs.:" https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/01/supreme-court-takes-up-case-claiming-obamacare-promotes-homosexual-behavior/

Once again Christians are claiming corporations are people have religious convictions and that their right to deny bodily autonomy for religious reasons are more important than mere human type people's right to bodily autonomy.

* "Is America a Kleptocracy?:" https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/03/25/america-kleptocracy-trump-musk-corruption/

* "Whipsawed by Trump’s tariffs, the US public is getting a lot more nervous about the economy:" https://apnews.com/article/trump-economy-consumer-confidence-tariffs-inflation-849d658cbab7992590a5a3bb3449aa52

* "Everything Owned by Nestlé:" https://wyomingllcattorney.com/Blog/Everything-Owned-by-Nestle

* "US likely to reach debt limit X-date in August or September, Congress’ scorekeeper predicts :" https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/03/26/congress/us-likely-to-reach-debt-limit-x-date-in-august-or-september-congress-scorekeeper-predicts-00250525

* Scary Shit. "US House Speaker Johnson says Congress can 'eliminate' district courts:" https://archive.ph/FUgTk

* "Elon Musk’s Space Business Partner Is Poised to Take Over NASA:" https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/elon-musk-jared-isaacman-nasa-spacex-business-partner-1235301236/

* "Who Is Frank Bisignano? Democrats Grill Trump’s Social Security Pick At Confirmation Amid DOGE Cuts To Service.:" https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2025/03/25/who-is-frank-bisignano-democrats-grill-trumps-social-security-pick-at-confirmation-amid-doge-cuts-to-service/

* "Fallout coming for House GOP over Trump's rug pull on Stefanik:" https://www.axios.com/2025/03/28/elise-stefanik-mike-johnson-trump-un-ambassador

* "Trump yanks Elise Stefanik’s Cabinet nomination, citing ‘very tight’ GOP majority:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/trump-yanks-elise-stefanik-s-cabinet-nomination-citing-very-tight-gop-majority-235623493907

* "Jasmine Crockett mocks sports bans: 'Find the little trans child that is ruining your life':" https://www.advocate.com/politics/jasmine-crockett-transgender-sports-bans

* "Why anger has shifted from Trump's overreach to the Democrats' disunity and apathy:" https://www.advocate.com/voices/trump-overreach-democrats-disunity-opinion

* As always, these are representative samples. There are way more out there.

Pressure both sides. Ask hard questions. Complain. Embarrass them. Keep pushing because we deserve better.

Stay Noisy.

* "Bernie Sanders, AOC rally crowd of 30,000 in Denver’s Civic Center:" https://www.denverpost.com/2025/03/21/bernie-sanders-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-aoc-denver-civic-center-trump/

* "Fourth Protest outside Rep. Pete Stauber’s office Demanding answers:" https://www.northernnewsnow.com/2025/03/20/fourth-protest-outside-rep-pete-staubers-office-demanding-answers/

* "Republican Senator Faces Angry Protesters, Questions in Red State:" https://www.newsweek.com/republican-senator-faces-protestors-questions-red-state-2048906

* "Nevada voters pack town hall to voice concerns about Trump policies:" https://knpr.org/politics/2025-03-21/nevada-voters-pack-town-hall-to-voice-concerns-about-trump-policies

* "‘Do your job’: Voters voice frustration after Nancy Mace declines town hall invite:" https://www.counton2.com/news/local-news/do-your-job-voters-voice-frustration-after-nancy-mace-declines-town-hall-invite/

* "Protestors gather outside Rep. Buddy Carters’ office:" https://www.wsav.com/news/protestors-gather-outside-rep-buddy-carters-office/

* "Andy Barr knew Lexington town hall was locally organized. He still lied about attendees | Opinion:" https://www.kentucky.com/opinion/linda-blackford/article302754904.html

* "Democrat Confronted by Angry Protesters at Town Hall:" https://www.newsweek.com/democrat-confronted-angry-protesters-town-hall-2048388

---

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

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

Please add more below if you have them.

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

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

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

* Have something you want to tell your Congress Critters? If you can't safely contact them in person, here are some other options:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

---

* "Democrats take hope from upset win in a GOP-leaning Pennsylvania state Senate district:" https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-democratic-party-donald-trump-election-094e907bd9af0d55a3ac76bb5e22d17c

* Voting has started for the April 1 special Election. Republicans have a wafer thin majority in the House of Representatives. "Democrats raise millions for Florida special elections in Trump territory:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/democrats-raise-millions-florida-special-elections-trump-territory-rcna197311

* "Josh Weil shocks by raising more than $10M for CD 6 Special Election:" https://floridapolitics.com/archives/727090-josh-weil-shocks-by-raising-more-than-10m-for-cd-6-special-election/

* "Ahead of Wisconsin Supreme Court election, Elon Musk PAC offers cash for pledge: The group backing conservative candidate Brad Schimel is offering $100 to people who sign a petition against 'activist judges':" https://www.wpr.org/news/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-elon-musk-cash-for-pledge

This was wildly illegal last time Musk did it, but he wasn't arrested and laws no longer apply to republicans, so here we are.

* "Wisconsin attorney general sues Elon Musk to block $1 million payment offers:" https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-supreme-court-elon-musk-trump-d75807980ac311b87606fb4ec58cc466

* "Wisconsin appeals court won’t stop Musk’s $1 million payments to voters after attorney general sues:" https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-supreme-court-musk-million-dollar-checks-43fa79215e16c333a1079a86cb9aab08

* "Special election to fill former Sen. Justin Eichorn’s seat set for April 29:" https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/03/25/special-election-to-fill-former-sen-justin-eichorns-seat-set-for-april-29

* "Have LGBTQ+ rights in Florida reached a turning point? Advocates have hope:" https://www.advocate.com/florida-lgbtq-hope

* "Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear vetoes anti-DEI bill:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/kentucky-beshear-vetoes-anti-dei-bill

* "NJ Democrats for governor want to amend the constitution for abortion. Legal experts call it ‘unnecessary’:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/23/nj-democrats-for-governor-want-to-amend-the-constitution-for-abortion-legal-experts-call-it-unnecessary-00244111

* "How Republican State Lawmakers Are Trying to Have It Both Ways on Lifesaving Abortions:" https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/03/abortion-exceptions-republicans-kentucky-texas-fetal-personhood.html

* "After reported deaths, Texas lawmakers file bills to clear confusion over medical exceptions to state's near abortion ban:" https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/deaths-texas-lawmakers-file-bills-clear-confusion-medical-exceptions-near-abortion-ban/

* "How Texas Republicans plan to keep cracking down on abortion:" https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/21/texas-abortion-fight-pills-travel-fund/

* "Transgender Texans refuse to be erased as Republicans try to make their existence illegal:" https://www.advocate.com/news/texas-transgender-community-under-attack

* "Texas Bill Would Require Photo ID to Buy Sex Toys Online, Calling Them 'Obscene Devices':" https://people.com/texas-bill-will-require-id-to-purchase-a-sex-toy-online-11703746

* "Florida bill to allow teens to work overnight hours on school days moves forward:" https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/florida-senate-panel-advances-bill-to-further-roll-back-child-labor-restrictions/

* "Top Florida lawmaker has ‘personal concerns’ about a push to loosen child-labor laws:" https://archive.ph/hP1Wk

They want children to work all night on school nights to make up for all the people being deported.

Florida, please protest!

* "West Virginia lawmakers vote to overturn local protections for LGBTQ+ people:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/wv-gop-vote-overturn-lgbtq-protections

* "Utah becomes the first state to ban Pride and other flags on public schools and government buildings:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/utah-bans-pride-flags-public-buildings

* We are headed to an even scarier place. "GOP lawmakers in 10 states introduce bills to treat abortion as homicide:" https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/gop-lawmakers-in-10-states-introduce-bills-to-treat-abortion-as-homicide/ar-AA1BPSFB

* "Youngkin vetoes bills that would have raised minimum wage, given paid sick leave to all and more:" https://www.wric.com/news/politics/capitol-connection/youngkin-vetoes-minimum-wage-paid-sick-leave-bills/

* "Mayor Michelle Wu - Making Boston A Home For Everyone | The Daily Show:"

( Embed: )

* "Demonstrators rally at site of Patrick Henry’s ‘Liberty or Death’ speech:" https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/richmond/demonstrators-rally-at-site-of-patrick-henrys-liberty-or-death-speech/

* "Parents call out school board member for anti-LGBTQ+ posts:" https://www.advocate.com/news/kentucky-school-board-member-homophobia

* "3 killed, 15 injured in shootout at 'unsanctioned car show' in New Mexico park:" https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/3-killed-14-injured-new-mexico-mass-shooting-rcna197615

* " Texas officials demand answers after video shows Austin police slamming transgender woman to ground :" https://www.advocate.com/news/transgender-woman-manhandled-austin-police

* "Minneapolis to pay $600,000 to settle with woman who says Derek Chauvin knelt on her neck:" https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/minneapolis-pay-600000-settle-woman-says-derek-chauvin-knelt-neck-rcna190312

* "'Ridiculous': George Floyd's girlfriend reacts to far-right effort to pardon Derek Chauvin:" https://www.msnbc.com/jonathan-capehart/watch/ridiculous-george-floyd-s-girlfriend-reacts-to-far-right-effort-to-pardon-derek-chauvin-235151429763

* "I’m an Incarcerated Nurse — Women’s Health in Prison Is Hell and Will Only Get Worse Under Trump:" https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/political-commentary/prison-health-incarcerated-nurse-trump-healthcare-america-1235299298/

* "The Succession Battle For A Prison Empire:" https://archive.ph/rkzWe#selection-736.0-736.1

* "'Nazis are not welcome in Austin' | UT students to protest controversial on-campus conference:" https://www.kvue.com/article/news/education/university-of-texas/natal-conference-ut-austin-campus-protest/269-26e25360-d2f7-4558-82e5-d2b7a6ef6e00

* "Texas A&M's drag ban blocked by federal court as judge cites free 'speech rights':" https://www.advocate.com/news/texas-am-drag-ban-blocked

* "Federal judge again blocks Iowa book ban; expected to rule on 'don't say gay' restrictions soon:" https://www.advocate.com/news/judge-blocks-iowa-book-ban

* CW: Rape. "Why Maids Keep Dying in Saudi Arabia: East African leaders and Saudi royals are among those profiting off a lucrative, deadly trade in domestic workers.:" https://archive.ph/avdTi

* Every Republican against us accusation is a confession. CW: CSA "Minnesota anti-trans state senator, who touted Trump derangement syndrome, arrested for soliciting a minor:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/minnesota-justin-eichorn-arrested

* CW: Domestic Violence. "Rebecca Marodi murder: Wife accused of fatally stabbing fire captain detained in Mexico:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/rebecca-marodi-stabbing-wife-detained

* "Texas’ first abortion arrests stem from monthlong attorney general investigation:" https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/17/texas-abortion-midwife-arrested/

* "Notes from a gender clinician:" https://www.advocate.com/voices/gender-clinician-affirming-care

* "Hungarians protest Pride ban; Budapest mayor promises LGBTQ+ support:" https://www.advocate.com/news/hungarians-protest-pride-ban

* "Missing gay Arizona yoga instructor, Marcus Freiberger, found dead after blind date:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/missing-gay-yoga-arizona-dead#toggle-gdpr

* "Gay men's chorus member killed in suspected Texas road rage attack — family and police seek help:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/road-rage-gay-killing-texas

* "Mississippi restaurant gets lambasted for straight-couples-only offer:" https://www.advocate.com/news/mississippi-restaurant-lambasted-for-homophobia

* Gender Policing and Transphobia harm everyone. "Walmart fires 6'4" cisgender woman threatened by man who thought she was trans:" https://www.advocate.com/news/walmart-fires-mistaken-trans-woman

* "Texas is poised to make measles a nationwide epidemic, public health experts say:" https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/21/texas-measles-vaccine-new-mexico-oklahoma-us/

* "2 more cases of measles confirmed in Maryland:" https://wtop.com/health-fitness/2025/03/2-more-cases-of-measles-confirmed-in-maryland/

* "New Mexico measles cases continue to rise in SE corner:" https://sourcenm.com/briefs/new-mexico-measles-cases-continue-to-rise-in-se-corner/

* "An ‘Impossible’ Disease Outbreak in the Alps:" https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2025/03/als-outbreak-montchavin-mystery/682096/

* How to fight your insurance company when they insist you take meds that don't work instead of a more expensive one that does: https://steptherapy.com/step-therapy-legislation-by-state/

* "Video: UW-led research links wildfire smoke exposure with increased dementia risk:" https://www.washington.edu/news/2024/11/25/video-uw-led-research-links-wildfire-smoke-exposure-with-increased-dementia-risk/

---

* "Over 25 million remain under red flag warnings with heightened risk of wildfires:" https://abcnews.go.com/US/wildfire-warnings-continue-parts-country-strong-winds-persist/story?id=120030148

* "Most Texas wildfires are contained Saturday despite elevated threats, forest service says:" https://www.dallasnews.com/news/weather/2025/03/22/most-texas-wildfires-are-contained-saturday-despite-elevated-threats-forest-service-says/

* "Wildfires force mandatory evacuation order in western North Carolina:" https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/wildfires-force-mandatory-evacuation-order-western-north-carolina-120068816

* "Firefighters battle four uncontained wildfires, evacuations in effect:" https://www.wyff4.com/article/polk-county-wnc-wildfires-high-fire-danger/64243054

* "Wildfires in North and South Carolina fueled by drought, wind and fallen trees from Hurricane Helene:" https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-north-south-carolina-evacuations-af970ce0551007bfa0a5940aed58d68a

* "Aid rushes into Myanmar after earthquake kills over 1,600, ravages cities:" https://archive.ph/jsXsV

* "Myanmar junta accused of air strike even after quake:" https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250330-myanmar-junta-accused-of-air-strike-even-after-quake

---

* "'Magnets for human connection': Why Japanese ‘micro-forests' are transforming our cities:" https://www.euronews.com/green/2025/02/17/the-japanese-micro-forest-method-is-transforming-cities

* "Debunking Garden Watering Myths:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/5JAeCFM8H9E

* "Scientists were in Antarctica when a giant iceberg broke free. Here’s what they found in its shadow:" https://www.euronews.com/green/2025/03/23/scientists-were-in-antarctica-when-a-giant-iceberg-broke-free-heres-what-they-found-in-its

* "This Fly Larva’s Butt Looks Like a Termite’s Head—and Termites Are Falling for It:" https://gizmodo.com/this-fly-larvas-butt-looks-like-a-termites-head-and-termites-are-falling-for-it-2000563456

* "This Apex Predator Was ‘King of the Ancient Egyptian Forest’ Then Mysteriously Went Extinct:" https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/this-apex-predator-was-king-of-the-ancient-egyptian-forest-then-mysteriously-went-extinct/

* "The Only Black Police Precinct in U.S. History: How Miami Was Policed During Segregation:" https://www.teenvogue.com/story/black-police-precinct-history-miami

* "New photo from Pulse shooting shows exit blocked by refrigerator, which may have cost lives:" https://www.advocate.com/news/new-photo-pulse-exit-blocked

* "Jamaica Heolimeleikalani Osorio: This Is the Way We Rise:" https://kcts9.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/identity-poetry-activism-video/this-is-the-way-we-rise-american-masters/

* "Scientist’s ‘disturbing’ behavior, death threats at Antarctic base prompts probe:" https://interestingengineering.com/culture/scientist-disturbing-behavior-antarctic-probe-begins

* "TSA stops man with live turtle in his pants:" https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/tsa-stops-man-with-live-turtle-in-his-pants/video_29a3b6d1-67d9-5dfc-a44e-765beb8ebc5d.html

* "Passenger Allegedly Swallowed Rosary Beads and Attacked Crew Members During Mid-Flight Meltdown:" https://people.com/plane-passenger-allegedly-swallowed-rosary-beads-and-attacked-crew-members-11695552

* Thursday a week ago, I had thought I was likely going to crash again 2AMish as I woke up exhausted, headachy, with all my joints screaming at me, but it got better about 2-3, so I soldiered on and got the aggregate out. Friday, I was well enough to do almost bare minimum physio, which I'm counting as a win.

My hopes of being super productive Friday night failed, alas, but for good reasons. The cats were doing Peaceable Kingdom in my bed, so I read most of Tidal Creatures while administering pettins on demand and cuddle naps for cats. I also had a bunch of small things needing doing I'd been in too much pain to handle around the Cat Asylum, which I spaced out in classic chronic pain fashion in between rests. Also I fell down a medieval history rabbit hole for about an hour. <.< >.>

Tonight was I was also migrating another function across to Killian laptop, and inevitably diving in and out of settings as I found things needing tweaking. This is why it generally takes several weeks to get a lap top going right, and this time having to use waterfox classic instead of standard waterfox meant I had to rethink job distributions, since a bunch of extensions don't work on classic. Limited utility means I need to switch some functions for other browsers. It's mostly sorted now, though I may need more tweaks.

Part of why Thursday worked out so well for me is I'm getting better at the new work flow pattern, so certain things can move a little faster.

So progress, basically, even though it feels like running on sand.

* Thursday this week, I had to stay up for painful x-rays and doctor prodding, as well as to have blood taken. The x-rays were incredibky painful as my hip joint are terrible right now and it's a lot of standing in fixed positions. My shoulder joint healed correctly. I have been released in the wild to do more at home physio. I am to focus particularly on inward motion, which means I will need to get creative. Sigh.

* So about a week and a half ago, a friend sent me NasalCrom to see if it could make a dent in my chronic sinus infection/sinusitis situation. It's really impressive, as it turns out. My sinuses have been slowly draining, which is not pleasant, but neither was several years of sinus headaches and the constant need to manually drain them 1-3 times a day depending on how much worse my allergies to Outside are making things. This, at least is progress towards an actual solution.

TMI after this point.
( TMI after this point.: )

* New Tavy pics: https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/778947425672019968/the-emperor-has-found-a-new-perch-from-which-to?source=share

* "DOGE Protestors Turn Their Focus on Tesla & Delayed NASA Astronauts Make It Home | The Daily Show:"

( Embed: )

* "GOP Pumps Tesla As Trump Admin Flubs JFK File Release & DEI Scrubbing | The Daily Show:"

( Embed: )

* "Jon Stewart on Which Speech Is Free and Which Will Cost You in Trump’s America | The Daily Show:"

( Embed: )

* "Trump's Kennedy Center Takeover | Kristi Noem Taunts Canada | Taking Greenland:"

( Embed: )

* "Signalgate: Trump Tries To Dodge Explosive National Security Scandal | All Of Them Should Be Fired:"

( Embed: )

* "Hegseth's Sloppy Security Breach | Mike Waltz: Goldberg's Number Got "Sucked In" To My Phone:"

( Embed: )

* "Blame Mike Waltz | Trump Team's Sloppy Digital Footprints | The Fertilization President:"

( Embed: )

* "How Many Dildos Is Too Many? Texas Offers An Answer:"

( Embed: )

* "Consumer Watch: Delete Your DNA | Toys For Kidults | Tax Prep For Kids:"

( Embed: )

* "Survive the Apocalypse in Luxury at this Doomsday Prepper Ranch | The Daily Show:"

( Embed: )

* "‘Why I’m Misogynistic’ | Are The Straights OK?:"

( Embed: )

* "the idea of odysseus as, like, a military propagandist/PR officer is really fun for me in a fucked up way, given that he Did Not Want To Go To War In The First Place.:" https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/779357773890732032/to-me-this-also-fits-with-him-taking-neoptolemus

* "Tumultuous 1066:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2XdqjwPHWps

* "Worrisome War Wolves:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/1o5nXucddGQ

* "Perilous Pazzis:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/G0MaPqF_Cqs

* "Woeful WWI:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/gRR2rKDo1IM

* "White House Easter Egg Roll Sponsors:"

( Embed: )

* "Resurrecting The Wooly Mammoth:"

( Embed: )

* "Styling the Whole World:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/XDxRiYF-v8s

* "Take a look at the winning images from this year's British Wildlife Photography Awards:" https://www.euronews.com/culture/2025/03/19/take-a-look-at-the-winning-images-from-this-years-british-wildlife-photography-awards

* "Sunday Sweets Springs In:" https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/sunday-sweets-springs-in-2025

*****
* 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.

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

* How to fight your insurace company when they insist you take meds that don't work instead of a more expensive one that does: https://steptherapy.com/step-therapy-legislation-by-state/

( More Links Underneath: )

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

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

---

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

******

---

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

* Have something you want to tell your Congress Critters? If you can't safely contact them in person, here are some other options:

Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to the representative of your choice.
Here is one that will send your reps a fax: https://resist.bot/
To get your Critters' numbers to call direct: https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Idaho (Democrat): 5/23/24

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

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


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

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

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

Never, ever sleep on a chance to vote.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

---

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

---

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

( Embed: )

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

---

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

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

---

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

( Embed: )

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

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

( Embed: )

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Miles to go before I sleep. Sigh.

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

It is so beautiful here, still.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

( Embed: )

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

( Embed: )

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

( Embed: )

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

* "Summer of Trump Cold Open - SNL:"

( Embed: )

* "Fast Fashion Ad - SNL:"

( Embed: )

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

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

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

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

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

The help links are at the bottom under the cut.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

( More Links Underneath: )

* Some of this is very likely out of date. I'm sorry. My arms mostly been in a sling since I dislocated it a couple weeks ago and Halloween really took everything out of me.

I lost a massive whole night's work, Saturday. It's impossible to recreate all of it at this point, which is heart breaking. Apparently trying to capitalize a 'W" and hitting the wrong button is enough to destroy Everything.

******

* It's Raining Trolls and Disinformation

The Internet is blowing up with disinformation, much of it Antisemetic and/or Islamophobic. I beg of you, please check sources on things you see, particularly if the claims are extreme or too close to a stereotype, or an image that could be misattributed or AI. A whole lot of people are invested in making things somehow even worse than they already are. Check me. Check everything.

If you spot me posting or reblogging something that might be troll farm or AI propaganda on this or any other topic let me know.

* "Is Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system ironclad?:" https://apnews.com/article/iron-dome-missile-defense-israel-palestinians-rockets-hamas-f57508d0e53945d1071d4582fcdae8d2

* "Hamas operatives used phone lines installed in tunnels under Gaza to plan Israel attack over 2 years, sources familiar with intelligence say:" https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/24/politics/intelligence-hamas-israel-attack-tunnels-phone-lines/index.html

* "Israel deepens military assault in the northern Gaza Strip:" https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-10-30-2023-d33ac65b49723b9715ebf47041ac5f66

* "The ‘Devil’s Playground’ of Urban Combat That Israel Is Preparing to Enter:" https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/24/world/middleeast/israel-hamas-invasion.html

* "Israel steps up air and ground attacks in Gaza and cuts off the territory’s communications:" https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-airstrikes-region-e41b5b12e8cdf9db62395314d9a782b6

* "Fearing airstrikes and crowded shelters, Palestinians in north Gaza defy Israeli evacuation orders:" https://apnews.com/article/northern-gaza-palestinians-israel-hamas-war-36109635f7bc90f403f0383d53a352e9

* "A Close Look at Some Key Evidence in the Gaza Hospital Blast:" https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/24/world/middleeast/gaza-hospital-israel-hamas-video.html

* "IDF confirms strike on Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza:" https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/israel-gaza-egypt-russia-airport/idf-confirms-strike-on-jabaliya-refugee-camp-in-gaza-104513270?id=104468652

* "Thirst and Hunger Grow in Besieged Gaza Amid Israeli Bombardment:" https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/25/world/middleeast/gaza-food-water-siege.html

* "Dwindling fuel supplies for Gaza’s hospital generators put premature babies in incubators at risk:" https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-hamas-babies-crisis-9ec2e404e16a132821dac644af110ef6

* "Another wave of Israeli strikes hit Gaza refugee camp as crossing opens for foreigners and wounded :" https://www.politico.com/news/2023/11/01/gaza-refugee-camp-israeli-strikes-00124706

* "Israel strikes ambulance near Gaza hospital, 15 reported killed:" https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/health-ministry-gaza-says-israel-targeted-convoy-ambulances-leaving-al-shifa-2023-11-03/

* "RSF initial report: Reuters journalist was killed in Lebanon in 'targeted' strike:" https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/rsf-says-killing-reuters-journalist-lebanon-targeted-strike-2023-10-29/

* "Gaza looks like a wasteland from space in these before-and-after photos:" https://apnews.com/article/satellite-images-israeli-airstrike-destruction-gaza-4477db1cfc39f38ac6cfff55330a7635

******

* I haven't read this yet, so can't vouch for it's contents. "Is the Two-State Solution Dead?:" https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2023/10/two-state-solution-dead-one-state-reality-yousef-munayyer/

* "Broken Lebanon cannot afford war between Hezbollah and Israel:" https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/broken-lebanon-cannot-afford-war-hezbollah-knows-it-2023-10-26/

* "Lebanon’s Hezbollah weighs dueling appeals: ease attacks or escalate:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/10/29/lebanon-israel-hezbollah-gaza-war/

* "Biden condemns retaliatory attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank:" https://apnews.com/article/biden-west-bank-settlers-israel-hamas-war-0a2f38878720c962a20d9286315cde94

* "Israel resists US pressure to pause the war to allow more aid to Gaza, wants hostages back first:" https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/israels-encirclement-gaza-city-tightens-top-us-diplomat-104597626

* "Biden and Netanyahu Look Headed for a Breakup on Unqualified U.S. Support for the Gaza War:" https://www.thedailybeast.com/biden-and-netanyahu-look-headed-for-a-breakup-on-us-support-for-gaza-war

* I fear he failed. "Let's talk about US advisors heading over....:"

( Embed: )

* "Yemen hasn’t declared war on Israel, contrary to online claims. Houthi rebels have launched missiles:" https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-israel-hamas-war-yemen-houthis-363471853927

* "Secret U.S. Military Presence in Yemen Adds a Twist to Houthi Attack on Israel :" https://theintercept.com/2023/11/02/yemen-israel-us-troops/

* "Fact Check: Turkish ships from centenary parade shared as response to Israel-Hamas conflict:" https://www.reuters.com/fact-check/turkish-ships-centenary-parade-shared-response-israel-hamas-conflict-2023-11-01/

* "Turkey recalling ambassador; Erdogan: We’ve written Netanyahu off:" https://www.timesofisrael.com/erdogan-says-netanyahu-no-longer-someone-turkey-can-talk-to-we-have-written-him-off/

* "What Palestinians Really Think of Hamas:" https://www.foreignaffairs.com/israel/what-palestinians-really-think-hamas

* "Flight from Israel to Russia’s Dagestan diverts as pro-Palestinian mob storms terminal:" https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/flight-from-israel-to-russias-dagestan-diverts-as-pro-palestinian-mob-storms-terminal/

* "The Senate Condemns Student Groups as Backlash to Pro-Palestinian Speech Grows :" https://theintercept.com/2023/10/27/palestine-israel-free-speech-retaliation-senate/

* "Israel-Hamas War Protest Leads to Tense Scene at Cooper Union Library:" https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/25/nyregion/cooper-union-protest-israel-hamas.html

* "Florida orders state universities to disband pro-Palestinian student group, saying it backs Hamas:" https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestine-desantis-florida-education-sjp-12b4d4f2bdd8618c12b8a29cc852be25

* "A lot of things are true. The refusal to grasp this is a non-trivial amount of the problem:" https://lifeisasacredtext.substack.com/p/a-lot-of-things-are-true

* "Some Israeli Journalists Express Fear About Conveying Dissenting Views:" https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/21/business/media/israel-journalists-hamas-war.html

* Where to donate for non-violent causes in Gaza and Israel: https://soc-puppet.dreamwidth.org/867894.html

* "Games for Gaza:" https://soc-puppet.dreamwidth.org/868099.html

******

* "Middle East War Adds to Surge in International Arms Sales:" https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/17/us/politics/israel-gaza-global-arms-sales.html

* "Developing World Sees Double Standard in West’s Actions in Gaza and Ukraine:" https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/23/us/ukraine-gaza-global-south-hypocrisy.html

* "In Global Conflict Zones, Hospitals and Doctors Are No Longer Spared:" https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/21/health/gaza-ukraine-hospitals-doctors.html

* "At least 24 killed, including at least 12 police officers, in attacks in Mexico:" https://www.cbsnews.com/news/police-attacks-mexico-guerrero-michoacan-24-killed/

* "Iranian teen injured on Tehran Metro while not wearing a headscarf has died, state media says:" https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-injured-teen-armita-geravand-dies-16c4f49e15dd774121e7498f34bd6622

* "Extremist attacks escalate in Niger after coup topples American ally :" https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/10/30/niger-coup-islamist-militant-extremism/

* "Labour MPs call for ‘kindness and common sense’ at heart of UK’s immigration policy:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/10/23/labour-mps-kindnesscommon-uk-immigration/

* "Suella Braverman called out in House of Lords over ‘migrants pretend to be gay’ comments:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/10/26/suella-braverman-lgbtq-asylum-seekers-house-of-lords/

* "Just one per cent of UK voters say trans people will matter in 2024 general election:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/11/03/trans-culture-wars-politics-uk-research/

* "Saudi Arabia hosting 2034 World Cup leaves LGBTQ+ football fans horrified:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/10/31/saudi-arabia-world-cup-2034-lgbtq/

* "Let's talk about Ukraine and Russia's stocks going down....:"

( Embed: )

---

* "Ukrainian spies with deep ties to CIA wage shadow war against Russia:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/10/23/ukraine-cia-shadow-war-russia/

* "Let's talk about rumor about Ukrainian aid....:"

( Embed: )

* "A Small Country Far From Ukraine Is Sending Hundreds to War, on Both Sides:" https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/20/world/asia/ukraine-russia-nepal.html

* "Friends From Childhood. Brothers in War.:" https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/29/world/europe/ukraine-war-friends.html

* "Russia prison population plummets as convicts are sent to war:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/10/26/russia-prison-population-convicts-war/

---

* "US fighter jets strike Iran-linked sites in Syria in retaliation for attacks on US troops:" https://www.reuters.com/world/us-military-steps-up-middle-east-surveillance-threats-troops-grow-2023-10-24/

* "US to terminate economic ties with Uganda over ‘gross violations’ of human rights:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/10/31/uganda-us-joe-biden/

* "As economy falters, more Chinese migrants take a perilous journey to the US border to seek asylum:" https://apnews.com/article/chinese-emigration-us-mexico-border-darien-381c215ff30f0f2349c2ea118aa280c6

* "Jeff Wilson, Washington state senator arrested in Hong Kong for having gun in carry-on, gets charge dismissed:" https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jeff-wilson-senator-washington-state-firearms-charge-dismissed-hong-kong/

* I'm not sure how feasible this is. "Biden administration revamps its student debt forgiveness plan:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/biden-administration-revamps-student-debt-forgiveness-plan-rcna122935

* "Biden plans to step up government oversight of AI with new 'pressure tests':" https://www.npr.org/2023/10/30/1209343819/ai-biden-oversight-executive-order

* Pete Buttigieg Extended Interview:"

( Embed: )

* "Ron DeSantis is taking his fight against drag all the way to the US Supreme Court:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/10/26/florida-ron-de-santis-drag-ban-legal-case-supreme-court/

* "New Clarence Thomas ethics questions about forgiveness on luxury RV loan:" https://www.npr.org/2023/10/25/1208600160/new-clarence-thomas-ethics-questions-about-forgiveness-on-luxury-rv-loan

* "The case of Clarence Thomas’s motor home gets curiouser and curiouser:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/10/26/clarence-thomas-rv-motor-home-taxes/

* "Senate Democrats plan to subpoena Harlan Crow and Leonard Leo over Supreme Court justices’ travel:" https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-thomas-ethics-senate-democrats-subpoenas-ed0bc398a8a407ef5b4c64a2d56af5a1

* "'Something to hide': Dems to subpoena megadonors at center of Supreme Court scandals:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/-something-to-hide-dems-to-subpoena-megadonors-at-center-of-supreme-court-scandals-196822085619

* "UAW-Ford deal nets union big wins on wages, benefits, investments:" https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/uaw-leaders-push-ahead-with-ford-contract-gm-talks-drag-2023-10-29/

* "Ford strikers, laid off UAW members get extra money in strike settlement: Here’s how much:" https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/ford/2023/11/03/ford-strike-laid-off-uaw-extra-pay-deal/71426913007/

There is power in the union.

* "Starbucks threatened to deny abortion travel benefits for workers seeking to unionize, judge says:" https://www.cbsnews.com/news/starbucks-abortion-travel-benefit-union-workers/

* "The Secret Memo That Ruined Democracy:"

( Embed: )

* "Dairy Workers on Wisconsin’s Small Farms Are Dying. Many of Those Deaths Are Never Investigated. :" https://www.propublica.org/article/wisconsin-dairy-farms-osha-safety-death-investigation-immigrant-workers

* "To tackle homelessness faster, LA has a kind of real estate agency for the unhoused:" https://www.npr.org/2023/10/24/1207461308/homelessness-housing-losangeles-la-real-estate-unhoused

* "House Republicans aim to pay for Israel aid with cuts to IRS funds:" https://www.npr.org/2023/10/31/1209670609/house-republicans-israel-funding-bill-irs

Cuts to the IRS dramatically decreases revenue to the government by letting rich tax cheats get away with not paying their share. Cutting revenues won't "pay for" anything.

This doesn't even get into why refusing to pay for aid to Ukraine is a terrible idea, which it is. There is nothing good about this bill.

* "US House Republicans' Israel-only aid bill opposed in Senate, by Biden:" https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-house-republicans-israel-only-aid-bill-faces-opposition-senate-2023-10-31/

* "Republicans' plan to fund Israel by cutting IRS spending would cost taxpayers billions and add to the national deficit:" https://www.businessinsider.com/israel-war-funding-irs-cuts-cost-taxpayers-worsen-deficit-cbo-2023-11

* "Hayes: GOP speaker 'laser-focused' on helping yacht owners cheat on taxes:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/hayes-gop-speaker-laser-focused-on-helping-yacht-owners-cheat-on-taxes-196820037528

* "Republican disarray unabated by election of speaker; party mired in infighting, time-wasting stunts:" https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/republican-disarray-unabated-by-election-of-speaker-party-mired-in-infighting-time-wasting-stunts-197002309838

* "Let's talk about getting around Tuberville....:"

( Embed: )

* "Elizabeth Warren condemns Republican plan to take free school meals away from LGBTQ+ kids:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/11/02/elizabeth-warren-republicans-free-school-meals/

* "Mike Johnson and his extremism ascend to the speaker's chair:" https://www.lawdork.com/p/a-virtual-unknown-mike-johnson-and

* "How Mike Johnson’s main strength will become his biggest liability:" https://www.politico.com/news/2023/10/25/how-mike-johnson-won-an-impossible-speakership-00123529

* "New House speaker played leading role in effort to overturn 2020 election :" https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/new-house-speaker-played-leading-role-in-effort-to-overturn-2020-election/

* "Johnson brings pro-oil, climate-skeptical record to speakership :" https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/4275210-mike-johnson-speaker-gop-pro-oil-climate-skeptical-record/

* "Here’s where Speaker Mike Johnson stands on the issues:" https://www.politico.com/news/2023/10/25/new-house-speaker-mike-johnson-on-the-issues-00123627

* "Mike Johnson's 20-year paper trail is an opposition researcher's dream:" https://www.axios.com/2023/10/26/mike-johnson-abortion-gay-marriage-transgender

* "Mike Johnson's Campaign Contributions From Company Tied to Russia:" https://www.newsweek.com/house-speaker-mike-johnson-donations-russia-butina-1838501

* "The Christian Nationalism of Speaker Mike Johnson:" https://time.com/6329207/speaker-mike-johnson-christian-nationalism/

* "Mike Johnson tries to back-pedal on anti-gay comments:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/10/27/mike-johnson-anti-gay-comments/

* "Mike Johnson’s wife runs counselling service comparing homosexuality to incest:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/10/30/mike-johnson-kelly-johnson-house-speaker/

* "Almost No One Knows Who Speaker Mike Johnson Is, But Many Disagree With His Views: Poll:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/nobody-knows-speaker-mike-johnson

* "Mike Johnson once blamed homosexuality for the fall of the Roman Empire:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/11/02/mike-johnson-roman-empire-homosexuality/

* "George Santos 'easily' survives vote to expel him from Congress:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/george-santos-easily-survives-vote-to-expel-him-from-congress-196908101673

* "Santos, 'emblem of the chaos that is the Republican-led House,' allowed to stay and lie another day:" https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/santos-emblem-of-the-chaos-that-is-the-republican-led-house-allowed-to-stay-and-lie-another-day-196916805514

* "Gay democrat Becca Balint moves to censure Marjorie Taylor Greene over ‘hate speech’:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/10/27/democrat-becca-balint-censure-marjorie-taylor-greene/

* "You Can Help Stop These Bad Internet Bills:" https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2023/07/you-can-help-stop-these-bad-internet-bills

* Have something you want to tell your Congress Critters? If you can't safely contact them in person, here are some other options:

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

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

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

* Early voting is already happening in a lot of places. Squirrel and I voted Friday.

Voting early allows you more time to fight disenfranchisement if you live in a voter suppression state where you were removed from the voter rolls without warning. It is often a way to avoid massive voting day lines that Republicans hope will discourage you from voting.

Please vote early if that's an option for you. It is better and safer.

If you can't early vote, please, please, please vote.

And remember, vote the whole ticket. Things like sheriffs and school board make a massive difference in quality of life.

* "Let's talk about Georgia maps changing....:"

( Embed: )

* "How Lobbying is Ruining Democracy:"

( Embed: )

* "Will Abortion Dominate the 2024 Elections? Tuesday Will Offer Clues.:" https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/04/us/politics/abortion-ohio-kentucky-virginia-election.html

* "Ohio Democrats Demand Voter Purge Reversal, Truthful Answers from Secretary LaRose:" https://ohiosenate.gov/members/william-p-demora/news/ohio-democrats-demand-voter-purge-reversal-truthful-answers-from-secretary-larose

* "With Abortion Rights on the Line, Ohio Lawmaker Says Those Purged Unlawfully Must Be Allowed to Vote :" https://www.commondreams.org/news/with-abortion-rights-on-the-line-ohio-lawmaker-says-those-purged-unlawfully-must-be-allowed-to-vote

* Ohioans, please, please vote! "Republicans resort to lies and deception ahead of vote on popular abortion rights amendment in Ohio:" https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/republicans-resort-to-lies-and-deception-ahead-of-vote-on-popular-abortion-rights-amendment-in-ohio-197091909969

* "Drag Ban Won't Go on Ohio City's Ballot, State Supreme Court Rules:" https://www.advocate.com/law/ohio-drag-ban-off-ballot

* "Sunshine State Senate:" https://www.msnbc.com/jonathan-capehart/watch/sunshine-state-senate-showdown-197107781664

* "Many Kentucky counties are consolidating polling sites, raising concerns about access:" https://www.npr.org/2023/11/05/1210195486/kentucky-election-vote-centers-polling-places

* "Ky. governor’s race tests Democrat’s ability to survive in Trump country:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/11/05/kentucky-governors-race-andy-beshear-daniel-cameron/

* "Tuesday’s Election Will Determine if Virginia Becomes the Next Florida:" https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/virginia-elections-democrats-2/

* "Danica Roem Is Letting Her Record Speak for Itself as She Runs for Virginia Senate :" https://www.advocate.com/politics/danica-roem-virginia-senate-transgender

* Please, please, please vote! "Pennsylvania’s election will be headlined by races for statewide courts, including a high court seat:" https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-supreme-court-election-campaign-0c517ed69436d8271fec7b7f04ae025e

* "What’s at Stake in Pennsylvania’s State Supreme Court Race?:" https://www.democracydocket.com/analysis/whats-at-stake-in-pennsylvanias-state-supreme-court-race/

* "The real threat Dean Phillips poses to Biden :" https://www.politico.com/news/2023/10/28/dean-philips-joe-biden-threat-00124082

I follow a lot more politics than even I show here. When I saw he announced, I too was like: Who? So don't feel bad if you don't know who this is.

* Ya think? "Pence ends White House campaign after struggling to gain traction. ‘This is not my time,’ he says:" https://apnews.com/article/mike-pence-2024-president-campaign-republican-trump-0ec44fc2a5b8683f34883e0ea72b2ab2

* "Courts consider possible disqualification of Trump for role in Jan. 6 insurrection:" https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/courts-consider-possible-disqualification-of-trump-for-role-in-jan-6-insurrection-197091909549

* "Lawyers argue whether the Constitution’s ‘insurrection’ clause blocks Trump from the 2024 ballot:" https://apnews.com/article/trump-insurrection-ballot-14th-amendment-colorado-f5d6c6174476ec414208323785df6e15

* "Donald Trump pledges to defund schools teaching critical race theory and ‘transgender insanity’:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/10/30/donald-trump-defund-schools-tcritical-race-theory-transgender/

* "Team Trump looking for 'different type of lawyer' to serve a second term with more loyalty: report:" https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/team-trump-looking-for-different-type-of-lawyer-to-serve-a-second-term-with-more-loyalty-report-196916293562

* "Sarah Huckabee Sanders Clamps Down on Gender-Neutral Language in Official Arkansas Documents:" https://www.advocate.com/news/sarah-huckabee-sanders

* "Republican lawmakers join Gays Against Groomers march:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/10/30/wisconsin-republican-lawmakers-gays-against-groomers-march/

* "‘Craven’: Leaked staff handbook reveals GOP rep’s thirst for attention:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/-craven-leaked-staff-handbook-reveals-gop-rep-s-thirst-for-attention-197084229751

* "Gay Jewish Lawmaker's Apartment Targeted With Anti-Semitic Graffiti:" https://www.advocate.com/news/joe-vogel-maryland-swastikas

* "Scandal-plagued Rep. George Santos pleads not guilty to latest charges:" https://www.npr.org/2023/10/27/1208478307/george-santos-charges-theft

* "Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' Author Sentenced on Fraud Charges:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/dont-say-gay-author-sentenced

* "Donald Trump Ally and Gay Tech Mogul Peter Thiel Was FBI Informant:" https://www.advocate.com/news/peter-thiel-fbi-informant

---

* "Daughter Ivanka Trump must testify at Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial, New York judge rules:" https://www.politico.com/news/2023/10/27/ivanka-trump-must-testify-trial-00123992

* "Trump takes the stand and is fined $10,000 for violating a gag order in fraud case:" https://www.npr.org/2023/10/25/1208444786/trump-new-york-fraud-case

* "Judge in Trump NY fraud trial extends gag order to lawyers, says office has received ‘hundreds’ of threats since trial started:" https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/03/judge-in-trump-ny-fraud-trial-extends-gag-order-to-lawyers-says-office-has-received-hundreds-of-threats-since-trial-started.html

* "Judge drops hammer on Trump: Gags entire legal team:" https://www.msnbc.com/deadline-white-house/watch/judge-drops-hammer-on-trump-gags-entire-legal-team-197075525979

* "Judge reinstates gag order against Trump:" https://www.politico.com/news/2023/10/29/trump-gag-order-reinstated-00124147

* "Trump Gagged; Immediately Violates Gag Order:"

( Embed: )

* "'Maybe they haven't been paying attention': Court agrees to hear Trump objections to gag order:" https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/-maybe-they-haven-t-been-paying-attention-court-agrees-to-hear-trump-objections-to-gag-order-197091909870

---

* "Why Conservatives Hate George Soros:"

( Embed: )

* "An increase in harassment against Jewish and Muslim Americans has been reported since Hamas attacks:" https://apnews.com/article/jewish-muslim-harassment-increase-f5a3e969f5a213625c224f8ac25538e1

* "Libs of TikTok's Chaya Raichik Threatens Anti-Defamation League Over Extremist Label :" https://www.advocate.com/news/libs-of-tiktok-adl-extremists

* "Man on ‘week-long anti-LGBTQ+ crime spree’ in Idaho tried to hit people with car:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/11/04/idaho-matthew-alan-lehigh-anti-lgbtq-crime-spree/

* "Arson Suspected After San Diego Queer Women's Bar Set on Fire:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/lesbian-bars-fire-san-diego

* CW: Suicide. "Suspect in the Maine mass shooting has been found dead, police say:" https://www.npr.org/2023/10/27/1209015872/maine-lewiston-shooting-robert-card-river

* "Suspected Maine shooter had history of liking far-right, anti-trans content online:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/10/27/maine-shooter-robert-card-twitter-likes-right-wing-tucker-carlson/

* "Why Conservatives Hate Immigrants:"

( Embed: )

* "Killings in the U.S. are dropping at a historic rate. Will anyone notice?:" https://www.latimes.com/politics/newsletter/2023-10-20/killings-in-the-u-s-are-dropping-at-an-historic-rate-will-anyone-notice-essential-politics

* "How decades-old decisions to build two California prisons in a dry lakebed and a chaotic climate left 8,000 incarcerated people at risk.:" https://www.themarshallproject.org/2023/10/24/california-corcoran-prison-climate-change-flood

* "Watch Candace Owens Call Native Americans ‘High’ and ‘Cannibals’ While Denying Two-Spirit Existence:" https://www.advocate.com/news/candace-owens-native-americans-cannibals

* CW: Rape "Veteran gay Tory MP Crispin Blunt arrested on suspicion of rape:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/10/27/tory-mp-crispin-blunt-arrested/

* "Indian school for wrestling helps girls chase better life and glory:" https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/india-women-wrestling/

* "Pockets" https://pudding.cool/2018/08/pockets/

* "Wales government to redefine women to include trans women in landmark gender laws:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/10/29/wales-government-redefinie-women-trans/

* "West Virginia teen appears in court in bid to overturn state trans sports ban:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/10/31/west-virginia-teen-trans-sports-ban/

* "Abortion restrictions in Russia spark outrage as the country takes a conservative turn:" https://apnews.com/article/abortion-russia-women-rights-feminism-fc5eab75b5e3d028aeb1f70ec8a9a2b1

* "Nigeria: Mass LGBTQ+ arrests ‘based on assumptions, not investigation’, activists say:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/11/01/nigeria-lgbtq-arrests-assumptions-activists/

* "South Korea upholds military’s archaic anti-gay law:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/10/31/south-korea-military-anti-gay-law/

* "LGBTQ+ Groups Denied Registration Even After Supreme Court Decision in Eswatini:" https://www.advocate.com/world/eswatini-officials-defy-supreme-court

* "Turkey’s Erdoğan claims LGBTQ+ people threaten the family:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/10/26/turkey-erdogan-lgbtq-people-family/

* "Johannesburg Pride marches for LGBTQ+ Ugandans in wake of Anti-Homosexuality Bill:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/10/29/johannesburg-pride-uganda-lgbtq/

* "Posie Parker tomato juice protester to face trial for New Zealand incident:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/10/26/posie-parker-tomato-juice-protester-to-face-trial-for-new-zealand-incident/

* "Sydney all-girls school bans same-sex couples from attending prom with their partners:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/10/26/sydney-catholic-girls-school-prom-same-sex-ban/

* "Glasgow woman pleads guilty after gay club assault:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/11/01/glasgow-woman-pleads-guilty-gay-club/

* "DUP councillor condemned for claiming ‘LGBTQIA alphabet soup mafia’ support Hamas:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/10/27/dup-councillor-colin-kennedy-claim-lgbtq-hamas/

* "Government’s trans school guidance promised by Christmas:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/10/31/gillian-keegan-trans-school-guidance-publication/

* "Trans conversion therapy survivor begs Rishi Sunak to push on with ban: ‘Some would call it torture’:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/10/30/conversion-therapy-survivor-rishi-sunak-ban/

* "Suzy Eddie Izzard says trans rights and women’s rights ‘shouldn’t be fought against each other’:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/10/26/suzy-eddie-izzard-trans-womens-rights/

* "The wildest claims LGB Alliance makes in its report against the word ‘queer’:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/10/31/lgb-alliance-queer-lgbtq-report/

* "Anti-trans campaigner Marion Millar arrested and charged in connection with alleged fraud:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/10/27/marion-millar-fraud-charges-arrest/

* "‘Lesbian Nana’ police officer investigation after viral video of pepper spray incident:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/10/25/lesbian-nana-pepper-spray-clip/

* "Where have all the lesbian bars gone?:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/10/27/where-have-all-the-lesbian-bars-gone/

* "Man arrested for murder of openly gay journalist Josh Kruger:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/10/31/man-arrested-murder-josh-kruger/

* "Man pleads guilty to obstructing justice in 2019 murder of trans woman:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/10/29/pebbles-ladime-dime-doe-trans-murder-guilty-south-carolina-us/

* "Bisexual New York Woman Assaulted When Mistaken for Trans:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/bi-woman-mistaken-trans-attacked

* "Michigan finally bans archaic ‘gay panic defence’ laws:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/10/24/michigan-gay-trans-panic-defence/

* "New York man pleads guilty for involvement in gay bar robbery scheme that left two dead:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/10/27/gay-bar-robbery-scheme/

* "Kansas honours trans ‘trailblazers’ after transphobic backlash to homecoming queen wins:" https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/10/27/kansas-honours-homecoming-queens-after-transphobic-backlash-trailblazers/

* "The US infant mortality rate rose last year. The CDC says it’s the largest increase in two decades:" https://apnews.com/article/infant-deaths-us-cdc-mortality-c808796da0415b6ecc0629938421e1b5

* "New Patch Inspired by Octopus Suckers Could Deliver Drugs Without Needles:" https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-patch-inspired-by-octopus-suckers-could-deliver-drugs-without-needles-180982986/

* "Diving Deep into the Mouth's Microbial Dark Matter:" https://www.discovermagazine.com/health/diving-deep-into-the-mouths-microbial-dark-matter

* "Mosquito-borne illnesses are picking up speed. Experts say Americans are unprepared:" https://www.salon.com/2023/10/21/mosquito-borne-illnesses-are-picking-up-speed-experts-say-americans-are-unprepared/

* "How a Lucrative Surgery Took Off Online and Disfigured Patients:" https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/30/health/hernia-surgery-component-separation.html

---

* "The impoverished imagination of neoliberal climate "solutions" :" https://pluralistic.net/2023/10/31/carbon-upsets/

* "New study warns climate is warming even faster than some think:" https://www.axios.com/2023/11/02/climate-change-warming-james-hansen

* "Amazon River falls to lowest in over a century amid Brazil drought:" https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/amazon-rainforest-port-records-lowest-water-level-121-years-amid-drought-2023-10-16/

* "Hurricane Otis: How a tropical storm turned into a 'nightmare scenario' overnight:" https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/hurricane-otis-rapid-intensification-climate-change-rcna122090

* "Credible missing persons list drops to 5 people unaccounted for from Lahaina fire:" https://mauinow.com/2023/10/27/credible-missing-persons-list-drops-to-5-people-unaccounted-for-from-lahaina-fire/

* "Deadly explosion off Nigeria points to threat posed by aging oil ships around the world:" https://apnews.com/article/oil-exploration-gasoline-environment-nigeria-1d4cc4791cbfc28e6ccf942075510a60

---

* "Let's talk about the Colorado River deal....:"

( Embed: )

* Golf courses should be illegal. "Abandoned golf courses are being reclaimed by nature:" https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/27/world/abandoned-golf-courses-reclaimed-by-nature-c2e-spc-scn-intl

* "What are roundabouts? A transportation engineer explains the safety benefits of these circular intersections:" https://theconversation.com/what-are-roundabouts-a-transportation-engineer-explains-the-safety-benefits-of-these-circular-intersections-215412

* "Here's What Ethical AI Really Means:"

( Embed: )

* "Elon Musk Offers to Also Ruin Wikipedia:" https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/elon-musk-wikipedia-twitter-x-encyclopedia-1234861220/

* "Sam Bankman-Fried found guilty in FTX crypto fraud case:" https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sam-bankman-fried-trial-verdict/

* "Fallen crypto king Sam Bankman-Fried found guilty on all counts:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/fallen-crypto-king-sam-bankman-fried-found-guilty-on-all-counts-196993605915

* "China’s youngest-ever astronauts blast off to space station:" https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/26/chinas-youngest-ever-astronauts-blast-off-to-space-station

* "US zoo saving endangered red wolf, one dental checkup at a time:" https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/us-zoo-saving-endangered-red-wolf-one-dental-checkup-time-2023-10-25/

* "Runaway zebras delighted the nation — and exposed their owner’s dark past:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/interactive/2023/maryland-zebras-jerry-holly/

* "How Scientists Tracked the Movements of a 17,000-Year-Old Woolly Mammoth:" https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/scientists-tracked-movements-17000-year-old-woolly-mammoth-180983064/

* "The Ancient Greek Woman Who Dressed as a Man to Seduce Men:" https://talesoftimesforgotten.com/2022/12/01/the-ancient-greek-woman-who-dressed-as-a-man-to-seduce-men/

* "The London History Show: Anne Boleyn:"

( Embed: )

* "The Chevalier d'Eon: the Trans 18th Century Spy:"

( Embed: )

* "How To Convince People To Volunteer: Joining Up In WWI:"

( Embed: )

* "15 Years After Pres. Obama's Historic Election:" https://www.msnbc.com/jonathan-capehart/watch/15-years-after-pres-obama-s-historic-election-197108293787

* "The Fight Between Cataphiles and Underground Police in the Paris Catacombs:" https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/strange-maps-paris-catacombs

I will never see the catacombs in person but I am horrified. Destroying them would be a desecration.

* "Illegal Body Trade: Modern-Day Corpse Theft:"

( Embed: )

* "Something Wicked This Way Paddles:" https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/24/us/witches-paddle-halloween.html?unlocked_article_code=1.5Uw.qR51.sbD-6BoYNu4_&smid=url-share

* "A Professional Pumpkin Carver Spills His Guts:" https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/22/style/halloween-professional-pumpkin-carver.html

* "New York unveils statue commemorating alligator sewer myth:" https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/nyc-alligator-sewer-statue-trnd/index.html

* Thursday a week ago dentist and hygienist were very astonished by my relaxed state during dentistry. I hadn't had time to warn them that sometimes I fall asleep before the dental dam went in ending my ability to explain. Luckily they didn't get scared as had happened before. I wasn't asleep, just meditating as is my usual practice when I'm not exhausted. Apparently even very chill patients don't normally relax at this level. I have no dental trauma or phobias. It's not that I enjoy dentistry, it's just I have no more emotion about it than I do around oil change. It's just maintenance.

No cleaner Friday, which is fine. So many people clocked out slightly late, they snatched 15 minutes here and 15 minutes there, so I am left with six visits at most to cover November and December instead of the surplus Math last summer suggested I should have. I am a bit grumpy as I generally let them off three to six minutes early.

Saturday, Goth Millennial exhausted the Tiny Terror with one of their Gothmas presents. Livia had her third oops in two weeks. I am pretty sure it's stress.

Sunday: Millennial pumpkin carving!

Monday I did a bunch of prep for the big day.

* Gothmas Phase 2 exterior decorations:
https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/732745508530061312/halloween-2023?source=share
https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/732746862485028864/the-millennials-did-some-pumpkin-carving-sunday?source=share
https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/732748177031249920/halloween-2023?source=share

* I lost the first version of this in the crash. The Management chased all the families with kids out and most of the grad students, replacing them mostly with retirees. I hardly even got adults raiding my table this year, and one of them stole a bowl. Sigh. This is why I use cheap Dollar Store bowls. The Millennials got big candy gift bags this year.

I love the pumpkins the Millennials carved so much. I'm going to be so sad when I take them down in a day or two.

A cheerful Gen Z person turned up to Clean Saturday, and we got most of the outside display down. I really liked them. Goth millennial got the things too high to reach Saturday. We are mostly focused on the Tuesday inspection right now.

* Squirrel has lost his job and needs about $800.00 for bills and food for a month. They have lost their health insurance which provides essential medication. They are an old RL friend and my roommate. https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/Squirrelmh

* My car broke yet again in late October. As I feared it was the hose that keeps the engine cool. Why feared? It's in the middle of all the gear under the hood. Hose and fluid replacements are cheap. an hour and a half of labor to take it all apart then put it back in is incredibly expensive. $280 worth in total. I have paid Squirrel back for the gas for the week and a halfish, I was borrowing his car, thanks to a donor. The repairs ate most of my bill money for the month. Yes, this is the forth repair this year. My car is about 25ish years old. I can't afford to replace it, nor can I do without it, being disabled: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/Gwydion

* Squirrel has lost his job and needs about $800.00 for bills, meds and food for a month. They have lost their health insurance which provides essential medication. We can float bills a bit if we must, but it's extremely dangerous if they skip any of their meds. They have already had a ton of interviews, and it is likely they will be offered a very good job if they can hold out until December when it starts. They are an old RL friend and my roommate: https://www.gofundme.com/f/pay-rosies-dental-bills

* "Chocolate: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver:"

( Embed: )

* "Meanwhile… Taylor Swift is a Billionaire | Doordash Tips | Florida’s Fake Cops:"

( Embed: )

* "World’s Longest Zucchini | Trump Kids Take the Stand | George Santos Survives Expulsion Attempt:"

( Embed: )

* "Why is Ron DeSantis Wearing Lifts? | Donald Trump v. The People | Biden’s Chilling AI Warning:"

( Embed: )

* "Barbie is Halloween’s Top Costume | Speaker Johnson’s Wife Runs Anti-LGBTQ Counseling Company:"

( Embed: )

* "Why Are Conservatives So Media Illiterate?:"

( Embed: )

* "Doctor Who vs Women:"

( Embed: )

* "Exploring the Emotions: Black Trauma vs. Black Horror:"

( Embed: )

* "From Protagonist to Romantic Prop: Mina Murray's Transformation:"

( Embed: )

* "The Gay Horror Manga You Should Be Reading:"

( Embed: )

* "True Facts: Incredible Crab Stories:"

( Embed: )

* "The Trump Kids in America:"

( Embed: )

* "See the Cutest Costumed Pups from New York City's Halloween Dog Parade:" https://people.com/dogs-costumes-2023-nyc-halloween-dog-parade-photos-8374321

* "Father and son make Halloween accessible to kids with disabilities one custom costume at a time:" https://www.cnn.com/us/walkin-rollin-costumes-halloween-iyw/index.html

* "Quirky Vintage Japanese Playgrounds Photographed at Night:" https://mossandfog.com/quirky-vintage-japanese-playgrounds-photographed-at-night/

* "Proposed: Counter-Halloween:" https://www.thestopgap.net/proposed/

* Ankh-Morpork Pride: https://www.tumblr.com/jamyesterday/732666837755691008?source=share

* A friend of Bertie Wooster transitions: https://www.tumblr.com/brigdh/732533098457268224?source=share

* "You work as the minor villain every new hero has to beat for their first battle.:" https://www.tumblr.com/seananmcguire/718085841933795328?source=share

* "Midnight Pals: A Chip off the old Block:" https://www.tumblr.com/bitterkarella/732631414044049408/midnight-pals-a-chip-off-the-old-block?source=share

* "Midnight Pals: Imaginarium:" https://www.tumblr.com/bitterkarella/732810170427752448/midnight-pals-imaginarium?source=share

* "Sunday Sweets: Drama Queens:" https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/sunday-sweets-drama-queens-2023

* "Sunday Sweets: It's Fall, Y'all!:" https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/sunday-sweets-its-fall-yall-2023

* "Sunday Sweets Gets SPOOPY:" https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/sunday-sweets-gets-spoopy-2023

* "Sunday Sweets: 10 Halloween Cuties:" https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/sunday-sweets-10-halloween-cuties-2023

* "Love Inks: 11 Tattoo Sweets!:" https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/love-inks-11-tattoo-sweets-2023

* "10 Enchanted Garden Cakes That Are Pure Magic:" https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/10-enchanted-garden-cakes-that-are-pure-magic-2023

*****
* 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.

* Where to donate for non-violent causes in Gaza and Israel: https://soc-puppet.dreamwidth.org/867894.html

* "Games for Gaza:" https://soc-puppet.dreamwidth.org/868099.html

* "If anyone wants to donate to Wadea Al-Fayoume's family then here:" https://www.tumblr.com/abigail-pent/731484616352989184/arab-mother-attacked-and-6-year-old-murdered-in?source=share

* Squirrel has lost his job and needs about $800.00 for bills and food for a month. They are an old RL friend and my roommate. https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/Squirrelmh

* An old friend of mine's beloved dog needs money for vet bills and special food: https://www.gofundme.com/f/pay-rosies-dental-bills

* Apply for Project 2025 so they have to pick through resumes, using their resources: https://apply.project2025.org/ords/r/p25/pub/questionnaire?p4_qid=1

* Want to help Andy Kim beat Bob Menendez? https://www.andykim.com/

* Help Adam Frisch beat Lauren Boebert: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/defeatlaurenboebertnowz

* Want to contribute to Gloria Johnson's senate run in Tennessee? https://www.votegloriajohnson.com/

* "US Patent Bureau call for comment on AI:" https://amaebi.dreamwidth.org/2286373.html

* "STOP Moms for "Liberty":" https://www.stopmomsforliberty.com/

* Want to help the people of Maui?

Maui Food Bank: https://mauifoodbank.org/

Maui Humane Society: https://www.mauihumanesociety.org/

Center for Native Hawaiian Advancement: https://www.memberplanet.com/campaign/cnhamembers/kakoomaui

Hawai'i Red Cross: https://www.redcross.org/local/hawaii/ways-to-donate.html

* Support the WGA. "Entertainment Community Fund:" https://entertainmentcommunity.org/

* Cool Blackwork Embroidery Patterns for Beginners: https://www.etsy.com/shop/thehaberdasheress/?etsrc=sdt

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

* I admit to having a wicked good time tormenting myself and other history geeks with my polls: https://www.tumblr.com/gwydpolls

( Links Underneath: )

* I'm too tired to finish. Sorry.

* "Inflation is spiking around the world – not just in the United States:" https://theconversation.com/inflation-is-spiking-around-the-world-not-just-in-the-united-states-187678

* "Ugandan Asians recall the trauma of fleeing their homes 50 years on:" https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-62390725

* "How many people cross the Channel in small boats?:" https://www.bbc.com/news/explainers-53734793

* I forgot this had happened again!!! "UK authorities charge man arrested at castle with crossbow:" https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-entertainment-arrests-royalty-178bb568c46c6abe431de4b41115af46

* "Prince Charles accepted £1m from family of Osama bin Laden, report claims:" https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jul/30/prince-charles-accepted-1m-from-family-of-osama-bin-laden-report-claims

* "Private Security in South Africa Comes at a Cost:"

( Embed: )

*********************************************************************************************************

* "The curious case of the Covid-19 rebound:" https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/03/world/coronavirus-newsletter-intl-08-03-22/index.html

* "'Rebound' Covid infections after Paxlovid becomes focus of inquiry:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/-rebound-covid-infections-after-paxlovid-becomes-focus-of-inquiry-145286725862

********************************************************************************************************

* "Ukraine's army is waging its 1st major offensive against Russia to retake Kherson:" https://www.npr.org/2022/08/02/1115267046/ukraines-army-is-waging-its-1st-major-offensive-against-russia-to-retake-kherson

* "Using Nuclear Reactors for Cover, Russians Lob Rockets at Ukrainians:" https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/01/world/europe/ukraine-south-counteroffensive-nuclear.html

* "Shells hit power lines at Ukraine nuclear plant, fighting in east:" https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/shelling-hits-power-lines-ukraine-nuclear-plant-both-sides-trade-blame-2022-08-05/

* "Ukraine Builds a Case That Killing of P.O.W.s Was a Russian War Crime:" https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/03/world/europe/russia-ukraine-prisoners-killed.html

* "Russia’s ethnic minorities lament the war in Ukraine:" https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/8/2/racist-federation-russias-minorities-complain-of-racism

* "Ballet, busking, bathing: How Ukrainians are defying Russia by embracing 'normal life':" https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/30/europe/russia-war-ukrainians-embracing-normal-life-intl-hnk/index.html

************************

* "China cuts off vital US contacts over Pelosi Taiwan visit:" https://apnews.com/article/taiwan-china-asia-beijing-b252479810add6a225fa1e4a6d441983

* "U.S. Drone Strike in Kabul Kills Top Qaeda Leader, Ayman al-Zawahri:" https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/08/01/us/al-qaeda-leader-killed

* "What the killing of al-Zawahri says about U.S. capability and Taliban confidence:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/what-the-killing-of-al-zawahri-says-about-u-s-capability-and-taliban-confidence-145287237558

* "Russia is ‘cranking up dial to extract as much as it can’ via Brittney Griner sentence expert says:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/brittney-griner-being-sentenced-to-9-years-in-russia-slammed-by-fellow-wnba-player-layshia-clarendon-145523781914

* "Biden signs new executive order on abortion rights: 'Women's health and lives are on the line':" https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/03/politics/joe-biden-abortion-executive-order/index.html

* "US proposes to increase refund protections for air travelers:" https://abc7.com/air-travel-refund-government-airlines/12097796/

* "Pete Buttigieg - The State of U.S. Infrastructure:" https://www.cc.com/video/6701q5/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-pete-buttigieg-the-state-of-u-s-infrastructure

* "Christian flag in speech battle flies, briefly, over Boston:" https://www.pressherald.com/2022/08/04/christian-flag-in-speech-battle-flies-briefly-over-boston/

* We now have the jobs back lost under 45. "Massive jobs surprise: US economy added 528,000 jobs in July :" https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/04/economy/monthly-jobs-report-preview-july/index.html

* "The Haves and the Have-Yachts:" https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/07/25/the-haves-and-the-have-yachts

* You can’t pay rent in chicken sandwiches. "Chick-fil-A store asks for ‘volunteers’ to work for chicken, not money:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/07/28/chickfila-volunteers-labor-drive-thru-chicken-north-carolina/

* "Rejected by courts, retirees take last shot to save pensions:" https://apnews.com/article/general-motors-co-congress-government-and-politics-703a3aa25278634996c0bc0414575767

* "Republican push to overturn Biden permitting rules passes Senate, with Manchin's support:" https://www.politico.com/news/2022/08/04/manchin-republicans-biden-environmental-rules-00049911

* "Senate passes bill to help veterans affected by burn pits:" https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/02/politics/senate-vote-burn-pits/index.html

* "Sinema says she will 'move forward' on economic bill, putting Biden's agenda on the cusp of Senate approval:" https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/04/politics/chuck-schumer-economic-bill-saturday/index.html

* ...And they chickened out on taxing the rich. "With Sinema’s help, private equity firms win relief from proposed tax hikes:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2022/08/07/inflation-reduction-act-sinema-private-equity/

* "Charles Blow: Republican opposition to climate bill is ‘purely partisan’:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/charles-blow-republican-opposition-to-climate-bill-is-purely-partisan-145354821784

* Have something you want to tell your Senators? If you can't safely 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.

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

* "Michels goes after Kleefisch in Wisconsin governor's race:" https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-wisconsin-donald-trump-campaigns-presidential-fc116b84f2648e70152fa5eb41f787bb

* "Six takeaways from Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Arizona and Washington primaries:" https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/02/politics/arizona-michigan-missouri-primary-election-takeaways/index.html

* "Kansas votes to protect abortion rights in state constitution:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/aug/03/kansas-abortion-vote-state-constitution

* "Kansas voters rebuke anti-abortion rights amendment:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/kansas-voters-rebuke-anti-abortion-rights-amendment-145435717544

* "Joy Reid: Victory for reproductive freedom in Kansas should make GOP nervous about midterms:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/kansas-voting-against-amendment-stripping-women-of-their-reproductive-rights-should-make-gop-nervous-about-midterms-joy-reid-says-145441861597

* "5 Takeaways From Ohio’s Primary Elections:" https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/04/us/elections/ohio-indiana-primary-elections-takeaways.html

* "Trump-endorsed Masters, Finchem win Arizona GOP nods for key races:" https://www.politico.com/news/2022/08/03/masters-finchem-arizona-results-00049539

* "Election denier Kari Lake wins nomination in Arizona election she said was rigged:" https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2022/08/kari-lake-wins-arizona-election/

* "Racist former sheriff Joe Arpaio can't even get elected mayor of his own town:" https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/8/3/2114261/-Remember-racist-ex-sheriff-Joe-Arpaio-He-looks-headed-for-yet-another-electoral-defeat

* "Eric Schmitt’s dominating win and 6 other takeaways from Missouri’s primary election:" https://www.kcur.org/politics-elections-and-government/2022-08-04/eric-schmitts-dominating-win-and-6-other-takeaways-from-missouris-primary-election

* "Results from the top races of the Washington state primary:" https://www.king5.com/article/news/politics/elections/results-washington-2022-primary-election-races/281-69a38705-eb53-4ad8-91eb-6ffe36f3e074

* "GOP's links to extremism surface in congressional primary:" https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-donald-trump-campaigns-race-and-ethnicity-be616cae0967ca6ee9c78ac1efee8e31

* "Herrera Beutler in trouble as Kent gains in WA’s 3rd District; Newhouse advances in the 4th:" https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/herrera-beutler-in-trouble-as-kent-gains-in-was-3rd-district-newhouse-advances-in-the-4th/

* "Indiana Rep. Walorski, 2 staffers killed in head-on crash:" https://apnews.com/article/indiana-legislature-south-bend-accidents-elkhart-31c849c90aff88a7cddc9e9a614a585f

* "Sen. Joe Manchin Demurs On Wanting Democrats To Stay In Power:" https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/07/sen-joe-manchin-demurs-on-wanting-democrats-to-stay-in-power

* "Young Black voters talk politics ahead of November's midterms:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-sunday-show/watch/young-black-voters-talk-politics-ahead-of-november-s-midterms-145174597616

* "Stacey Abrams: ‘I am strongly pro-choice’:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/stacey-abrams-i-am-strongly-pro-choice-145434181822

* "GOP candidate for Illinois governor said Holocaust ‘doesn’t even compare’ to abortion in resurfaced 2017 video:" https://news.yahoo.com/gop-candidate-illinois-governor-said-193953407.html

* "Hungary’s far-right PM Viktor Orbán speaks at CPAC summit – as it happened:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2022/aug/04/senate-sinema-climate-inflation-reduction-biden-democrats

* "As conservatives cheer far right messages at CPAC, Mehdi Hasan has another name for it: ‘Fascism’:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/as-conservatives-cheer-far-right-messages-at-cpac-mehdi-hasan-has-another-name-for-it-fascism-145517125919

* "Joy Reid: Viktor Orban is a right wing dream for GOP trying to destroy our democracy from within:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/hungarian-autocrat-viktor-orban-receives-the-red-carpet-treatment-by-republicans-at-cpac-145522245758

* "The GOP is Viktor Orban’s party now:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/08/07/vicktor-orban-republican-party-cpac-dallas-new-fascism/

* CW: Sexual Assault "The FBI Confirms Its Brett Kavanaugh Investigation Was a Total Sham:" https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/08/brett-kavanaugh-fbi-investigation

* "Will Ivana help Donald Trump with tax breaks from beyond the grave?:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jul/31/donald-ivana-trump-cemetery-golf-course-taxes

* "Federal grand jury subpoenas ex-Trump WH counsel Cipollone in 2020 election probe, source says:" https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/02/politics/pat-cipollone-grand-jury/

* "Arizona Officials Warned Fake Electors Plan Could ‘Appear Treasonous’:" https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/02/us/politics/arizona-trump-fake-electors.html

* "Rep. Mondaire Jones: ‘Our democracy is in crisis’:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/rep-mondaire-jones-our-democracy-is-in-crisis-145519173576

* "Jan. 6 text messages wiped from phones of key Trump Pentagon officials:" https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/02/politics/defense-department-missing-january-6-texts/index.html

* "Homeland Security watchdog previously accused of misleading investigators, report says:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/08/03/homeland-security-joseph-cuffari-watchdog-report/

* "Former White House ethics lawyer ‘strongly suspects’ orders to destroy texts came from White House:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/jan-6-texts-of-secret-service-department-of-homeland-security-pentagon-officials-being-deleted-slammed-by-former-white-house-ethics-lawyer-145441861886

* "Sandy Hook lawyer: Jan. 6 panel asked for Alex Jones' texts:" https://apnews.com/article/shootings-austin-texas-lawsuits-75d521210f350d3e7c36c1a5aa6213dd

* "Jan. 6 rioter who wore jacket with his last name on it pleads guilty:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/jan-6-rioter-wore-jacket-last-name-pleads-guilty-rcna41784

* "Alex Jones ordered to pay $49.3M total over Sandy Hook lies:" https://www.politico.com/news/2022/08/05/alex-jones-sandy-hook-damages-00050186

* "US to fill border wall gaps at open area near Yuma, Arizona:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/us-to-fill-border-wall-gaps-in-arizona-for-safety-reasons/2022/07/28/1ae2f346-0ead-11ed-88e8-c58dc3dbaee2_story.html

* "Georgia authorities release body camera footage after woman dies following fall from patrol car:" https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/30/us/georgia-brianna-grier-body-camera-footage-reaj/index.html

* "Feds charge 4 police officers in fatal Breonna Taylor raid:" https://apnews.com/article/breonna-taylor-louisville-civil-rights-violations-merrick-garland-b137cccd940652c20e1294363cb01b72

* "Alec Karakatsanis - "Usual Cruelty":" https://www.cc.com/video/ratli7/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-alec-karakatsanis-usual-cruelty

* "New York prisons lift ban on book about Attica uprising:" https://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment/celebrities/article264093376.html

* "Life as a Trans Soldier:"

( Embed: )

************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

* "Another Major Heat Wave Sweeps the U.S.:" https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/02/us/heat-wave-northeast-records.html

* "August heat wave places nearly 80 million at risk from Texas to Northeast Megalopolis:" https://www.foxweather.com/weather-news/tracking-heat

* "Man trying to burn spider with lighter sparked Utah wildfire, police say:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/aug/02/utah-wildfire-police-man-burn-spider-lighter

* "As Western flames spread, California sees its largest 2022 fire:" https://www.npr.org/2022/08/01/1114828739/california-klamath-largest-fire

* "Record floods strand 1K people in Death Valley National Park:" https://apnews.com/article/floods-nevada-weather-government-and-politics-7e823cb4ab832c8a69587020c3a4eb2a

* "Floods strike new blow in place that has known hardship:" https://apnews.com/article/floods-storms-kentucky-21d5f1915034fcf4e02c85e5ac73b78d

************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

* "People Are Moving (Back) to This Deadly Wildfire Site:"

( Embed: )

* "How Clean Energy Is Increasing Worker Exploitation in DRC:" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiThCK0-_b0

* "Village Tackles Speeding by Planting Thousands of Flowers Because Drivers Slow Down as They Pass By:" https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/village-tackles-speeding-by-planting-thousands-of-flowers-after-noticing-drivers-slowed-down-as-they-passed-them/

* "Elon Musk Has Officially Lost $69 Billion This Year:" https://futurism.com/the-byte/elon-musk-lost-69-billion?utm_campaign=trueanthem_manual&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR1XWvakA53op5H0o8wZinWq0YvF5D9IW0ie6-AGh8SEwzH2MsPqlJizoIc&fs=e&s=cl

* "Following the Black Soldiers who Biked Across America:"

( Embed: )

* "Nichelle Nichols, trailblazing 'Star Trek' actress, dies at 89:" https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/31/entertainment/nichelle-nichols-star-trek-dies/index.html

* "Wellington Paranormal's reluctant star:" https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/tv-guide/105744477/wellington-paranormals-reluctant-star

* "Mental Health Care:"

( Embed: )

* "Meanwhile... Grandma's NSFW Headstone | A Candy Lover's Dream Job:"

( Embed: )

* "Meanwhile... The Rise Of The Necrobots | The Bittersweet Merger Of Spirit And JetBlue:"

( Embed: )

* "Joe Manchin's Surprising Climate Deal:" https://www.cc.com/video/mya63k/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-joe-manchin-s-surprising-climate-deal

* "Biden Resumes Border Wall & Ivana Trump's Golf Course Burial:" https://www.cc.com/video/7p75gr/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-biden-resumes-border-wall-ivana-trump-s-golf-course-burial

* "CP Time - The Black Roots of House Music:" https://www.cc.com/video/7n2b9n/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-cp-time-the-black-roots-of-house-music

* "Student Debt Is Following Americans to the Grave:" https://www.cc.com/video/oet983/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-student-debt-is-following-americans-to-the-grave

* "GOP Primaries, Kansas Protects Abortion & Alex Jones Trial:" https://www.cc.com/video/n41fe1/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-gop-primaries-kansas-protects-abortion-alex-jones-trial

* "Izzy/Ed / No Children / The Mountain Goats:"

( Embed: )

* So the tooth thing is a whole saga again. I went and got the root canal. After they were like, "We're putting in a temporary filling until you can get a crown." Me: When can I schedule the crown for? Them: We don't do that here and neither does your dentist. You can't chew anything until you get the crown as it's fragile and will crumble and we'll have to do another root canal. Good luck! Bye! Me: WTF!?!

Both my dentist and the Endodontist knew I had neither a previous crown or root canal, but I was supposed to have guessed two months ago that I would need a crown and that I needed to start searching for a new dentist that both did crowns and took Medicare right then, since there are basically no dentists taking new patients in my area and the wait lists are full since everything is scheduled out four months. I don't understand why they didn't tell me this when they told me I needed a root canal? I'd heard of crowns, had zero idea what one is or what it's for. I'm still not clear on what a root canal is. (I asked assorted different dental personal what a root canal is, including both dentists. I asked every time they asked if I had questions. None of the answers made sense and i think I would have done better if they'd used, say a picture of a tooth and pointed at things, but that's not how it works, apparently? Instead they say a few vague and confusing things that convey no information so there was nothing for it.) How was I supposed to guess that I needed to ask questions about crowns under that circumstance? Wouldn't it have been logical for them to say "You need both a root canal and a crown. You will need to find an endodonist and a new dentist, here are two lists of practices that do those things" rather than wait for someone who has said repeatedly they don't know anything about root canals to know what questions to ask?

So I'm basically fucked. I literally an not allowed to chew. I keep hurting myself moving my teeth wrong. There was a speck of grit in my mouth this evening (Wednesday) which may be the start of the temp filling crumbling. I have called all the dentists on the tiny list I wheedled them into giving me of dentists they work with, one of which doesn't exist apparently. The one who answered their phone says I should call back in a couple of months to see if there is room on their wait list then as they are scheduled four months out right now and they don't know any other practices taking new patients.

Everyday I call the answwering machines of dentists fruitlessly, leaving messages with zero hope that anyone will take me even if they do have slots as I know full well most dentists reject medicare out of hand even though it pays cash and is easier to get advance clearance for these things because of reasons unclear to me. My Social worker is on vacation. I hope to enlist her help when she gets back as she's a bulldog and can argue the medicare billing which I don't know how to do, but really, I'm fucked.

I have x-rays. I have excellent records. I literally had a cleaning in the last month. I just want the frigging crown, not all the new patient exam and x-ray stuff. I can't chew until we do this. I don't see how I can go the projected four to six months without crumbling the temp.

All the dentists knew this would be the case. Seriously, why the fuck did not one of them tell me to start looking for a dentist that does crowns two months ago? I don't understand why that deliberately kept this information from me knowing that getting a crown in less than four to six months would require a time machine or a miracle and that I needed a crown ideally within a week of the root canal? Am I missing something here?

* Wednesday we were meant to swim, but there was a COVID exposure in our friend group, and Head Millennial and I decided to just do errands instead. Several hours after I took Head Millennial home, my body through one of the grand tantrums where a bunch of things go wrong at once. I ended up puttering around for a while, but giving up and going to bed without accomplishing much.

Thursday I felt terrible to an extent where I am now playing the sick or recovering from a body tantrum game. The joys of chronic illness. I had wanted to post the Tuesday election results Wednesday noight. I simply was impossible. I'm sorry.

* Friday: I am 90% sure I figured out what's going on with my body and that it's a perfect storm of things that periodically go wrong going on at once, plus tooth rfelated disruptions meaning I keep ending up swalowing things that weren't really chewed and the whole mostly only eating once a day because I'm simply not well enough to make whole meals multiple times a day at this trather high pain level.

Normally, I'd do a real, dinner equivalent meal once I make it out of my room, as that's when my spoons and pain rtesistance are best case for the evening. I have dried fruit and nuts, and if I'm really hungry maybe a granola type bar as a mid-awake cycle snack, and then something easy and fairly light towards the end of the awake cycle for optimum coverage on my AS meds while I sleep. There is literally nothing on the snack list I can have mid wake cycle so it gets skipped. If I skip the smaller, later meal, I don't get the second AS meds dose. Without the mid-cycle snack, I'm often too tired and queasy to make and eat Last Meal. Missing the second dose fucks with my sleep and builds the general overall pain level higher which makes it even less likely I can manage Last Meal.... you see the problem. Yoghurt is crazy expensive. I should probably try to buy some this weekend anyway.

Adding to the whole pain situation I had Spasms, Wednesday after I took head Millenial home, which makes the pain situation worse and I had to take a PRN that interacts with something else to add muscle aches. That effect is mostly worn off, but it likely contributed to the pain snowballing effect. Then there's the sinus headache from allergen exposure outside Wednesday. Headaches make queasiness. The muscular part of my chronic pain (TMj,extreme spasms) also can cause queasiness. My inability to chew food contributes to queasiness.... You see where this is going. Oh, and I was taking the wrong dose of something by accident for over a month which can cause queasiness. I'm sure I'm forgetting something.

So I think I'm not sick, just in a perfect storm of chronic illness and tooth nonsense.

There is light at the end of the tunnel on the oven at least. I want to thank everyone who's contributed so far. We are at a point where, say not paying most of our electric bill could solve it, for example, if we are lucky and the price hasn't gone up in a monthish.

* Fundraising Friday and Saturday went swimmingly. As of this writing, I am waiting for money to move into my bank account so I can buy the oven.

I want to thank everyone who helped not only with the oven, but with the whole series of disasters that hit starting last November., I couldn't manage without all of you.

Thank you.

* "I Pledge Allegiance to Roller Coasters:" https://www.thechatner.com/p/i-pledge-allegiance-to-roller-coasters?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

*****
* 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.


( Links Underneath: )