Nec Hoc Nec Ilud

* "Why People Are Protesting in India:" https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/17/world/asia/india-protests-citizenship-muslims.html

"All 33 million residents of Assam, a state bordering Myanmar and Bangladesh, had to provide documentary evidence, such as a property deed or a birth certificate, showing that they or their ancestors lived in India before 1971. Those who could not would be declared foreign migrants, at risk of being sent to huge new detention camps.

More than two million people, many of them Muslims, failed to pass the test and could end up stateless. The governing party of Mr. Modi has vowed to extend the test to other parts of India.

The government has said the test was intended to root out undocumented immigrants from Bangladesh. India’s home minister, Amit Shah, has repeatedly referred to these migrants as “termites.”"

* "The year in protests: What happened next?:" https://www.bbc.com/news/world-50822363

* "Hong Kong protest tide turns into sea of flames:" https://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-poy-hong-kong-widerimage/hong-kong-protest-tide-turns-into-sea-of-flames-idUSKBN1YR1T4

* "U.S. Braces for Major North Korean Weapons Test as Trump’s Diplomacy Fizzles:" https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/21/world/asia/north-korea-missile-test-trump-kim.html

* "Russia’s State TV Calls Trump Their ‘Agent’:" https://www.thedailybeast.com/russias-state-tv-calls-trump-their-agent

* "Trump airs his grievances as MAGA millennials mingle:" https://www.politico.com/news/2019/12/21/trump-turning-point-usa-speech-089182

* "‘Who is Mar-a-Lago?’ Arrested Chinese woman appears confused after intrusion at Trump club:" https://www.miamiherald.com/news/state/florida/article238538558.html

* "Trespassing Chinese nationals suggest an alarming pattern:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/trespassing-chinese-nationals-suggest-an-alarming-pattern-75638341667

* "Rev. Barber on relationship between Evangelical movement and Trump:" http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/rev-barber-on-relationship-between-evangelical-movement-and-trump-75629637959

* "Donald Trump’s vendetta against the wind:" http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/donald-trump-s-vendetta-against-the-wind-75631173743

* "President Trump’s written tirade to Nancy Pelosi, annotated:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/12/17/president-trumps-written-tirade-nancy-pelosi-annotated/

* "Battle lines harden over Trump impeachment trial witnesses:" https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-impeachment-idUSKBN1YQ0I6

* "House counsel suggests Trump could be impeached again:" https://www.politico.com/news/2019/12/23/doj-impeachment-vote-undercut-house-mcgahn-testimony-089604

* "New evidence shows fears about legality of Trump Ukraine scheme:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/new-evidence-shows-fears-about-legality-of-trump-ukraine-scheme-75635781983

* "Sen. Van Hollen: Trump violated another law with Ukraine aid hold:" http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/sen-van-hollen-trump-violated-another-law-with-ukraine-aid-hold-75630149899

* "Chris Hayes on the ‘damning’ emails sent right after the Ukraine phone call:" http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/chris-hayes-on-the-damning-emails-sent-right-after-the-ukraine-phone-call-75631685829

* "Does media coverage appear to attack Democrats for impeachment?:" http://www.msnbc.com/am-joy/watch/trump-impeachment-media-coverage-seems-to-criticize-democrats-75549765878

* "Millions of Americans Are at Risk of Losing Health Care, Yet Again:" https://www.hivplusmag.com/treatment/2019/12/23/millions-americans-are-risk-losing-health-care-yet-again

* "Trump adviser: Expect more aggressive poll watching in 2020:" https://apnews.com/af2f0ede054d8baebbe1bb6ca47b4895

* "Democrats strategize against renewed GOP vote suppression efforts:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/democrats-strategize-against-renewed-gop-vote-suppression-efforts-75637317560

* "50+ LGBTQ Women, Nonbinary Activists Back Elizabeth Warren:" https://www.advocate.com/election/2019/12/24/exclusive-50-lgbtq-women-nonbinary-activists-back-elizabeth-warren

* "Elizabeth Warren launches investigation into FOSTA/SESTA on International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/12/17/fosta-sesta-elizabeth-warren-international-day-end-violence-sex-workers-trans-rights/

* "Under secret Stephen Miller plan, ICE to use data on migrant children to expand deportation efforts:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/under-secret-stephen-miller-plan-ice-to-use-data-on-migrant-children-to-expand-deportation-efforts/2019/12/20/36975b34-22a8-11ea-bed5-880264cc91a9_story.html

* "Does white nationalism remain a problem for active-duty troops?:" http://www.msnbc.com/am-joy/watch/-white-nationalist-term-removed-from-military-screening-measure-75547717869

* "New Jersey Is Third State to Ban Discrimination Based on Hair:" https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/20/us/nj-hair-discrimination.html

* "Antigay, Tax-Exempt Mormon Church Accused of Misusing Billions:" https://www.advocate.com/religion/2019/12/17/antigay-tax-exempt-mormon-church-accused-misusing-billions

* "Modern Life: Crash Course European History #30:"

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* "Indonesia Is Trying to Screen Out Queer Teachers:" https://www.advocate.com/world/2019/12/23/indonesia-trying-screen-out-queer-teachers

* "U.S. Ambassador to Zambia Relieved of Duty After Denouncing Homophobia:" https://www.advocate.com/world/2019/12/23/us-ambassador-zambia-relieved-duty-after-denouncing-homophobia

* "An Open Letter to My LGBTQ Family This Holiday Season:" https://www.advocate.com/commentary/2019/12/23/open-letter-my-lgbtq-family-holiday-season

* "Will a Post-HB 2 North Carolina Elect Its First Trans Senator?:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/2019/12/23/will-post-hb2-north-carolina-elect-its-first-trans-senator

* TW: Death Threat "High school student makes a powerful statement after being called a ‘f****t’ one too many times:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/12/17/high-school-student-pride-flag-cape-eastern-hancock-indiana/

* "'Lost crops' could have fed as many as maize:" https://phys.org/news/2019-12-lost-crops-fed-maize.html

* "‘Tis Impeachment Season:"

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* "Why Are People Protesting in Hong Kong? Part 1:"

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* "Why Are People Protesting in Hong Kong? Part 2:"

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* ""Once Upon Impeachment," A Late Show Animated Christmas Classic:"

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* The Refrigerator is officially fixed. It really was a very easy repair of yu have the right toolsand know what you're doing. It was absolutely nothing I could fix myself. It turns out Rubbermaid makes a kick ass cooler. As in, the large baby sized ice block I had put in the bottom was barely even a tiny bit melted and most of the loose ice stayed intact. It did fit in the storage unit with the small borrowed cooler inside. Like, all the perishables made it through from Friday to Sunday. I lost half my food at least in the initial emergency, but nothing over the weekend. It's nice and cool/cold and the ice maker is happily making ice.

I did my Solstice thing, but was too tired after to even touch a computer, hence Sunday being all preprogrammed stuff on tumblr and it being crickets on Dreamwidth. I am till finding things and returning them to their proper homes, as the table clearing had to be hasty.

The great fish migration is going to be next Saturday. *crosses fingers* I spotted a live whiptail in the by the door twenty and those are the worst to catch and transport. Current plan is to migrate the other twenty across to the thirty and what until I hear from the contractor in January to see if I actually have to move the door twenty at all. If I do, they will join their comrades in the office thirty. If not, after the renovation I'll move the tank with fish inside across the living room and put the thirty back on it's pedestal in the living room where the door twenty currently is.

Today I went out to do forage, library and pick up a few replacements for things that died in the fridge last week. It was a good forage in a lot of ways (pistachios!), but was light on bread and fresh veg. Then I went through a stack of yet more phone bureaucracy. They are not cancelling my medicaid, it turns out, but the COLA on Social security starting January was just enough to push everyone on Social Security out of the Categorically needy program into the Medically needy program, which despite the you are going to lose some benefits wording is essentially the same according to the Health and Human Services guy. I have not started the end of year bureaucracy packet, which came last Friday, but a lot of Friday's phone bureaucracy was me calling around to get people to mail me the documentation I need to do the packet. Obviously, none of that is here yet. The weekend ate all the spoons, and I'm wiped today from errands. Hopefully, I'll get my shit to do the parts I can manage with the paperwork I have in the next three days, and fill in the bits that need documents when they turn up. Then I laboriously put forage away. Squirrel emptied the dishwasher yesterday, so there was room for me to reload it. Which meant exhausting and painful prewashing. I still have one side of the sink worth of prewashed things ready for the next load. Sigh.

I still have a lot of last week's news to chew through on top of toy's stuff. My hope is, I'll have a chance to catch up this week.

* I want to thank all of my readers. no really, y'all make me feel less like a voice crying in the wilderness or Cassandra speaking prophecy to those who don't listen.

I especially want to thank those of you who helped keep Livia kitten alive through her medical crisis. Seriously, she would have died without you all coing together to pay her vet bills and get her the food she needed/s to stay alive. She seems to be doing really well on limited ingredient shreds and odds are I'll be getting normal limited ingredient turkey based grain free kibbles and try transitioning her off the prescription kibbles in January once I'm in funds again. She likes the shreds so much she looks forward to them every day, milling around excitedly when she thinks I'm making them and giving one small worried squeak if I'm too slow. I make the sounds that means it's coming and she is reassured. Elder kitty thinks the shreds are the best food ever, and I think they are helping her digestion. Elder Kitty is doing so well, it like the clock has turned back to when her cohort clowder were alive. she's still frail, but she's eating better, has taken back all her common area nap spots and seems to have mostly recovered from her long depression.

I also wanted to give a special thanks to everyone who helped keep the car, dishwasher, and refrigerator running. You are all super stars.

* "The 30 Best LGBTQ Films of the Decade:" https://www.advocate.com/film/2019/12/23/30-best-lgbtq-films-decade#media-gallery-media-31

* TW: Eating Disorders. "Why Can't Marvel Superheroes Have 'Normal' Bodies?:" https://www.advocate.com/commentary/2019/12/18/why-cant-marvel-superheroes-have-normal-bodies

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

* A small, cheap thing to help climate change if you have little money to spare: https://onetreeplanted.org/products/amazon-rainforest-peru

* How to donate to Rainbow Road: https://www.rainbowrailroad.com/donate

* Here are a bunch of state level links to help people in immigrant detention: https://taibhsearachd.tumblr.com/post/186058182962/woundability-this-4th-of-july-celebrate-the

* Angry about the concentration camps on our Southern Border? Here is a list of useful things you can do: https://medium.com/@togetherandfree/feel-helpless-amidst-the-horrific-immigration-news-youre-not-how-you-can-make-difference-today-108dc42de88e

* "More Organizations to Support Helping Kids in Concentration Camps:" https://thisfinecrew.dreamwidth.org/201920.html

* Here is a massive list of things you can do to help refugees inside and outside of the Camps: https://s-leary.tumblr.com/post/185783586806/so-youve-probably-seen-the-post-going-around

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

* The Indivisble guide exists to help you organize effective resistance: https://indivisible.org/

* Want to support Christy Smith in the primary for Katie Hill's seat?: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/dw_ca25

* Want to get rid of Mitch McConnell? Help Amy McGrath: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/am-website?refcode=website-nav

* Want to get rid of Lindsey Graham? Help Jaime Harrison: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_harrison_fr_q12019_jaime-a?refcode=MS_AD_D-DD_2019.03.08_X_GG_KW__X__eyJjcmVhdGl2ZSI6IkFkZCBEb25hdGlvbiBOb3ciLCJhdWRpZW5jZSI6IkphaW1lSGFycmlzb24ifQ&recurring=TRUE&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIn4a_583I5gIVC8RkCh0MowFeEAAYASAAEgIXZfD_BwE

* Have something you want to tell your Congress Critters? If you can not protest in person, here are some other options:

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

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

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

* Some RL friends of mine who were barely scraping by just lost one of the part time jobs they collectively hold and it's really fucking things up for them. These are good people, who do so much for others. Want to help? https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-a-gig-worker-get-through-the-winter/share

* HorrorMux is currently running a Max Mad type thing. Available Archetypes are here. I'm Martyr if you want to find me.: http://horrormu.com/index.php/Available

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

* If you are interested in helping, right now the Cat thing we need most is:
https://www.chewy.com/wellness-core-signature-selects/dp/147047

The dry food I was going to try (less urgent) is this one: https://www.chewy.com/blue-buffalo-wilderness-flatland/dp/176663

Or possibly this: https://www.chewy.com/instinct-by-natures-variety-limited/dp/44654

* Birthday/Solstice master list: https://gwydion.dreamwidth.org/2108835.html

* "The Latest: Sudan protesters increase death toll to 108:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/the-latest-sudanese-generals-say-they-want-to-resume-talks/2019/06/05/752fbbaa-8773-11e9-9d73-e2ba6bbf1b9b_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.82be28f88ae9

* "Canada finally acknowledged the genocide against Indigenous women. It’s time to act.:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/06/04/canada-finally-acknowledged-genocide-against-indigenous-women-its-time-act/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.5cb68caa086b

* "Russian trolls fueled anti-vaccination debate in U.S. by spreading misinformation on Twitter, study finds:" https://www.cbsnews.com/news/anti-vax-movement-russian-trolls-fueled-anti-vaccination-debate-in-us-by-spreading-misinformation-twitter-study/

* WTF?!? "Trump Administration Considered Tariffs on Australia:" https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/02/business/trump-australia-tariffs.html

* "Pentagon tells White House to stop politicizing military:" https://apnews.com/3dba0b327e8e45e5b9589db4bb735505

* "Trump officials approved Saudi nuclear permits after Khashoggi murder:" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/04/trump-saudi-arabia-nuclear-jamal-khashoggi-murder

* "Trump tells UK he 'wouldn't pay' $50 billion Brexit divorce bill:" https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/02/politics/trump-sunday-times-interview-brexit-grb-intl/index.html

* "41-gun salutes and a Twitter tirade: Donald Trump arrives in UK:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jun/03/donald-trump-arrives-in-buckingham-palace-for-state-visit

* "Donald Trump tells Prince Charles US has 'clean climate':" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jun/05/donald-trump-tells-prince-charles-us-is-clean-on-climate-change

* "It’s un-British to roll out the red carpet for Donald Trump | Sadiq Khan:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jun/01/donald-trump-state-visit-red-carpet-unbritish

* "Trump administration halts cruises to Cuba under new rules:" https://apnews.com/67c721daee8143d4a2e6ee8c401bf215

* "Trump likens Irish border to wall between US and Mexico:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jun/05/ireland-visit-donald-trump-arrives-leo-varadkar-discussions

* "The President* Is Traveling the World Finding New Problems to Make Worse:" https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a27758775/president-trump-ireland-northern-ireland-border-wall/

* Fuckssake! "Ignorant Trump remarks in Ireland force Irish PM's clarification:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/ignorant-trump-remarks-in-ireland-force-irish-pm-s-clarification-61400645989

* "Senators will try to block Trump’s arms sales to Saudi Arabia:" https://www.politico.com/story/2019/06/05/senators-block-arms-sale-saudi-arabia-1353639

* "Mexico Will Face Tariffs Next Week, Trump Vows:" https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/04/us/politics/mexico-tariffs.html

* "Trump plan to hijack 4th of July event not encouraged by history:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/trump-plan-to-hijack-4th-of-july-event-not-encouraged-by-history-61401669518

* "Trump is ‘making up’ for not serving in Vietnam with increased defense funding, he says:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2019/06/05/trump-is-making-up-not-serving-vietnam-with-increased-defense-funding-he-says/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.72489fd4224d

* "Trump suggests AT&T boycott to force changes in CNN coverage:" https://www.politico.com/story/2019/06/03/trump-att-cnn-coverage-1351599

* "Russia's manipulation of Twitter was far vaster than believed:" https://www.politico.com/story/2019/06/05/study-russia-cybersecurity-twitter-1353543

* "House Intel plans hearings into Trump counterintel findings:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/house-intel-plans-hearings-into-trump-counterintel-findings-61400645991

* "Judge now says DOJ doesn't have to release Kislyak-Flynn transcripts:" https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/04/politics/flynn-kislyak-sullivan-transcript/index.html

* "Talks Between Democrats and Justice Dept. in Doubt Over Barr Contempt Vote:" https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/04/us/politics/trump-hope-hicks-annie-donaldson.html

* "Add Child Porn to Crimes Allegedly Committed by Trump-Affiliated Figures:" https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/george-nader-child-pornography-charged-trump-843869/

* "The 29 most eyebrow-raising lines from Jared Kushner's Axios interview:" https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/03/politics/jared-kushner-axios/index.html

* "EPA Chief: It's The Media's Fault People Are So Worried About Climate Change!:" https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/epa-andrew-wheeler-blame-media-climate-change-alarm

* "Trump announces departure of chief economist Hassett:" https://www.politico.com/story/2019/06/02/trump-announces-departure-of-chief-economist-hassett-1351102

* "A ‘Bridge’ to China, and Her Family’s Business, in the Trump Cabinet:" https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/02/us/politics/elaine-chao-china.html

* "Elizabeth Warren Proposes ‘Aggressive Intervention’ to Create Jobs:" https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/04/us/politics/elizabeth-warren-economy-jobs.html

* "Warren: Biden is wrong on the Hyde Amendment:" http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/warren-biden-is-wrong-on-the-hyde-amendment-61393989838

* "Despite Trump's promises, Midwest jobs leave for Mexico:" http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/despite-trump-s-promises-midwest-jobs-leave-for-mexico-61393989948

* "FLASHBACK: Prof. Elizabeth Warren faces off against Sen. Joe Biden:" http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/flashback-prof-elizabeth-warren-faces-off-against-sen-joe-biden-61395525676

* "Warren: Unions will rebuild America's middle class:" http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/warren-unions-will-rebuild-america-s-middle-class-61395013667

* "House at last clears massive disaster aid deal for Trump's signature:" https://www.politico.com/story/2019/06/03/house-disaster-bill-1352444

* "Trump administration cancels English classes, soccer, legal aid for unaccompanied child migrants in U.S. shelters:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/trump-administration-cancels-english-classes-soccer-legal-aid-for-unaccompanied-child-migrants-in-us-shelters/2019/06/05/df2a0008-8712-11e9-a491-25df61c78dc4_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.2ea6dc94f987

* "Border Patrol increases passenger searches on buses far from border:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/border-patrol-searches-have-increased-greyhound-other-buses-far-border-n1012596

* "Migrant woman dies shortly after Border Patrol detention:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/migrant-woman-dies-shortly-after-border-patrol-detention/2019/06/04/0b112528-871f-11e9-9d73-e2ba6bbf1b9b_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.be5f81fc7ebd

* Senate won't pass it. "House passes immigration bill to protect ‘dreamers,’ offer a path to citizenship:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/house-poised-to-pass-immigration-bill-that-would-protect-dreamers/2019/06/04/bac5cf98-86d7-11e9-a491-25df61c78dc4_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.f6bc92a51557

* "Botched reunifications left migrant children waiting in vans overnight:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/botched-family-reunifications-left-migrant-children-waiting-vans-overnight-n1013336

* "U.S. Requiring Social Media Information From Visa Applicants:" https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/02/us/us-visa-application-social-media.html

* "Republican Tennessee House Speaker To Resign After Lewd And Sexist Texts:" https://www.npr.org/2019/05/21/725389031/tenn-republican-to-resign-as-house-speaker-after-lewd-and-sexist-texts

* "Judge weighs license renewal for Planned Parenthood in St. Louis:" https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/judge-weighs-license-renewal-for-planned-parenthood-in-st-louis/article_a5590c6b-d1b9-5912-be44-e2adc38293b2.html

* "Trump Administration Sharply Curtails Fetal Tissue Medical Research:" https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/05/us/politics/fetal-tissue-research.html

"As of last year, the N.I.H. spent about $100 million of its $37 billion annual budget on research projects involving fetal tissue. The tissue is used to test drugs, develop vaccines and study cancer, AIDS, Parkinson’s disease, birth defects, blindness and other disorders. For much of that work, scientists say there is no substitute for fetal tissue."

* "Catholic School Principal Quits After Visiting Strip Club During Field Trip:" https://www.huffpost.com/entry/catholic-school-principal-strip-club_n_5cf3b478e4b0a1997b6bd6ed

* "Trump says transgender troops can’t serve because troops can’t ‘take any drugs.’ He’s wrong in many ways.:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/06/05/trump-says-transgender-troops-cant-serve-because-troops-cant-take-any-drugs-hes-wrong-many-ways/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.6031eb641b0e

* "30th Anniversary of the Crushing of the Tiananmen Square Demonstrations:" https://transgriot.blogspot.com/2019/06/30th-anniversary-of-crushing-of.html

* "The GOP vs. Trump's Tariffs, Straight Pride Parade in Boston & A Hellish Helicopter Rescue :"

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* "If You Don't Know, Now You Know - Boris Johnson, the British Trump:"

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* "The Trumps Go On A Royal Field Trip:"

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* "Jared Kushner Struggles With 'Is Donald Trump A Racist?':"

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* "Brits Greet Trump With Baby Blimps And A Giant Penis:"

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* "Meanwhile... A Service Dog In The Strip Club:"

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* My body hard vetoed forage and is being super difficult on a variety of levels. I'm trying to figure out if it's chronic stuff or I'm ill. Sorry about the uneven posting.

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

* They are changing the HUD rules to allow discrimination against trans folk. Here is how/where to complain: https://amaebi.dreamwidth.org/1643597.html

* Angry about the Republicans banning birth control and abortion inn several states? Consider protesting, donating, or volunteering:

Planned Parenthood
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/

The Center for Reproductive Rights
https://www.reproductiverights.org/

NARAL
https://www.prochoiceamerica.org/

The American Civil Liberties Union
https://www.aclu.org/

Access Reproductive Care: Southeast
https://www.arc-southeast.org

NNAF
https://abortionfunds.org/

the Yellowhammer Fund
https://yellowhammerfund.org/

Mississippi Reproductive Freedom Fund
https://msreprofreedomfund.org/

Women Have Options
http://www.womenhaveoptions.org/

* Want to help LGBTQIA+ folk escape repressive regimes? https://www.rainbowrailroad.com/donate

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

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

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

* The Rainbow Road and other ways to help Gay Refugees: http://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/160470723507/the-rainbow-railroad-is-helping-gay-men-escape

* Upset about the abuse of big cats by people who shouldn't be allowed to keep them? Big cat rescue is trying to change laws to protect wild animals. "Cat Laws:" https://bigcatrescue.org/cat-laws/

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

* Have something you want to tell your Congress Critters? If you can not protest in person, here are some other options:

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

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

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

* This is a cool person and the clothes are being made from an ethical source. Looking for cool inclusive Pride themed merch? https://www.etsy.com/shop/NerdyKeppie?ref=l2-shopheader-name§ion_id=24021616

* HorrorMux is open for apping the next story, which is a science Fiction eldritch horror thing. Available Archetypes are here. I'm Martyr/Angel if you want to find me.: http://horrormu.com/index.php/Available

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

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

* "At least 23 die in weekend of Ethiopia ethnic violence:" https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ethiopia-violence/at-least-23-die-in-weekend-of-ethiopia-ethnic-violence-idUSKCN1LX0VK

* "Trucking Is the Security Crisis You Never Noticed:" https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/09/19/trucking-is-the-security-crisis-you-never-noticed/

* Don't hold your breath. "U.S. ready to resume North Korea talks, seeks denuclearization by 2021:" https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-southkorea-summit/u-s-ready-to-resume-north-korea-talks-seeks-denuclearization-by-2021-idUSKCN1LY30R

* "Pompeo Prioritizes Arms Sales Over Civilian Lives in Yemen:" http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/09/pompeo-prioritizes-arms-sales-over-civilian-lives-in-yemen.html

* *headdesk* "Donald Trump urged Spain to 'build the wall' – across the Sahara:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/sep/19/donald-trump-urged-spain-to-build-the-wall-across-the-sahara

* "Michael Cohen spoke to Mueller team for hours; asked about Russia, possible collusion:" https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/michael-cohen-spoke-mueller-team-hours-asked-russia/story?id=57959664

* No surprise here. "Trump taps Darrell Issa to lead trade agency:" https://www.politico.com/story/2018/09/19/trump-darrell-issa-trade-agency-830654

* "Trump claim that FBI can't probe Kavanaugh allegations is wrong, ex-officials say:" https://www.politico.com/story/2018/09/19/fbi-kavanaugh-allegations-trump-830150

* His seat is very vulnerable and he’s running against Rep. Jacky Rosen. Don’t approve Nevadans? Make sure you are registered to vote and show up in November. "GOP senator sees 'little hiccup' in Kavanaugh confirmation:" https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/407565-gop-senator-kavanaugh-accusation-is-a-little-hiccup

* Her seat is vulnerable! Missouri voters, make sure you are registered and don't forget to turn out in November! "McCaskill to vote no on Kavanaugh confirmation:" https://www.politico.com/story/2018/09/19/mccaskill-vote-no-kavanaugh-830630

* "Classmate of Kavanaugh's accuser says not a case of mistaken identity:" https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/christine-blasey-fords-high-school-classmate-controversy-felt/story?id=57935927

* "Sen. Chuck Grassley: No Need For FBI To Investigate Kavanaugh Allegation:" https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/chuck-grassley-fbi-brett-kavanaugh-senate-hearing_us_5ba1a7f0e4b013b097800719

* "'Unfazed and determined': Top Grassley aide vows to confirm Kavanaugh despite allegations:" https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2018/09/20/brett-kavanaugh-confirmation-furor-over-mike-davis-tweets/1366391002/

* "Protesters arrested on Capitol Hill after Senate office demonstrations:" https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/20/politics/congress-protests-brett-kavanaugh/index.html

* "Fresh out of F***s to Give, Senator Mazie Hirono Has Harsh Words for Kavanaugh Defenders:" https://www.themarysue.com/senator-mazie-hirono-badass/

* Please, please, please if you can manage it, contact your Senators to get them to fight the Kavanaugh nomination. This is geometrically more important if you have a centrist Democrat like Joseph Manchin, Joe Donnelly, Doug Jones, Jon Tester, and Heidi Heitkamp; or Republicans like Tim Scott, Marco Rubio, Susan Collins or Lisa Murkowski. (For Scott and Rubio emphasize Kavanaugh's racism and support for racial profiling, for Collins and Murkowski emphasize the right to chose, the nominee allegedly having attempted to violently rape someone, and the Jane Doe case where he tried to force a raped immigrant teen to carry against her will, With Murowski, you might also mention his opposition to programs benefiting Alaska Natives). Jeff Flake of Arizona may be softening! Please, if you are from Arizona, keep the pressure on! Contact Chuck Schumer and ask him to whip the Democrats so as to get them to stand in united opposition. It wouldn't hurt to demand your Republican Senators call for a proper FBI Background investigation. They won't, but pressuring them shows them there might be consequences.

Protest in person if you can, but if you can’t, here are some other options:

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

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

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

* "Trump Boasts About Steel Industry’s ‘New Life' As More Steelworkers Vote To Strike:" https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/steelworkers-strike-arcelormittal_us_5ba1f222e4b046313fc09016

* "Despite a "Trump bump," steelworkers are mad as hell — and ready to revolt:" https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/59a3bd/despite-a-trump-bump-steelworkers-are-mad-as-hell-and-ready-to-revolt

* "Pennsylvania lawmaker wants to ban teachers from talking politics, government in school:" http://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/pennsylvania/mc-nws-pennsylvania-tallman-political-speech-ban-bill-20180917-story.html

This is broad and dangerous. My experience was that students often ask about things like politics and the war and the like. What about Current Events? Debate? Projects in which they research an issue and propose various solutions? It can be handled ethically. I never endorsed a candidate, refused to tell them who I'd voted for no matter how they begged, and responded to questions about politics, candidates, and issues factually and wit a great deal of thought about how to phrase things fairly. Teaching Social Studies is in part about preparing students to be informed citizens and voters. Part of that is teaching them to research issues and make and evaluate arguments based on evidence and reason. Part of that is letting them talk about and research issues important to them. Part of that is helping them understand how government works and getting them invested in the idea of participation when they are old enough to vote. this seriously infringes on the 1st Amendment rights of teachers, since it is definitely the government barring speech, but it also guts the social studies curriculum and deprives students of the very education they need to be well informed citizens as adults.

* "New racial controversy batters DeSantis:" https://www.politico.com/story/2018/09/20/ron-desantis-florida-racial-issues-830726

* "Exclusive: With more immigrant children in detention, HHS cuts funds for other programs — like cancer research:" https://www.yahoo.com/news/exclusive-immigrant-children-detention-hhs-cuts-funds-programs-like-cancer-research-230259583.html

* So if judges aren't allowed to judge what ARE they allowed to do? "Sessions limits U.S. judges' ability to dismiss deportation cases:" https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-sessions/sessions-limits-u-s-judges-ability-to-dismiss-deportation-cases-idUSKCN1LZ2TG

* "What so many men are missing about #MeToo:" https://www.vox.com/2018/9/10/17826168/me-too-louis-ck-men-comeback

* "Texan Behind 3D-Printed Gun Legal Battle Charged With Sexual Assault of a Minor:" http://time.com/5400664/cody-wilson-3d-printed-guns-charged-sexual-assault/

* TW: Pedophilia, Suicide. "'Maria Generation': Puerto Rican kids face harsh realities:" https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/17/health/sutter-maria-generation-children-puerto-rico/index.html

* Wednesday I did make it out to forage, though later than I like. Thursday I had people over for dinner, hence the super late start on Internet things.

The whole injury/illness thing means I've made very little progress on Gothmas phase one. As of tonight, I'm still working on lighting. the string of white lights plus science fiction/fantasy light up ornaments finally died, so I need to transfer the ornaments to a new string. Given the string of white is from the turn of the century or possibly older and half the lights have been dead for two Gothmas seasons, this death was not a surprise and I got a string on deep discount last year or the year before at super steep end of season discount in anticipation. It's tomorrow's problem now, since this process is a pain if memory serves.

As it turns out, my decision to dramatically upgrade anchoring for the big Halloween Tree turns out to have been wise. I have a whole bunch of new hooks and I have made an entire support web out of that lovely deep purple yarn remnant I finger crocheted into a sturdier,more Livia resistant string. Tavy isn't the problem here for all his ferocity. His disability does make him clumsy and he does tend to knock over an occasionally off bit of Halloweentown by accident, but he pays very little attention to the trees and their ornaments. Livia though? Is at the age where she routinely roots around on the bedroom shelves to steal ew and interesting things she shouldn't have to play with. Kaiju kitten has already partially knocked over the little tree batting at ornaments. (It doen't go over because it's light strings form a support web. Tonight I had to confiscate two small Halloween things that had gotten separated from their box of compatriots, which I had set on the big tree stand while the guests were here. I then watch her stand on her hind legs to explore some of the big tree lights, though she didn't try to play with them. I think this will be a challenging year for Ornaments and the Halloweentown denizens.

I am very proud of the junior kitties today though. Tonight's guests did not include the one Tavy now lets touch him, but they both sent most of the evening on my bed, instead of Livia spending the whole time in her hiding closet. I even convinced Livia to let me give her a quick head pet, even though I was wearing the scary goth trousers, so either she's getting more accustomed, or my attempts to move more quietly are helping or both. I did briefly set of the screamers by not turning the hood on full, because I can't hear conversation when it's up that high. It went off ironically just after I'd taken the food off the burners. Sigh. It's getting really sensitive to steam, alas. They both hid, of course, but were on the bed again later when I took the plates back to the kitchen. I am so proud of them for being so brave.

* Snerk. When the school did not believe Tony Stark was Peter Parker's second emergency contact: http://seananmcguire.tumblr.com/post/178304100650/tamaranianprincess-stark-tony-i-adore-tony

* It's ebay time again. I am now I am about $150.00 behind on bills and can no longer cover insurance auto withdraw near month's end. If you'd like to chip in directly towards helping me pay my bills Paypal Lethran@gmail.com or paypal.me/Gwydion

The all items for sale link is here: https://www.ebay.com/sch/lethran/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=

( Individual items listed below the cut: )

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

* "Fires in Greece: how to help:" https://medium.com/@theo.k/fires-in-greece-how-to-help-41ad32fc9232

* Practical ways to protest with scripts. "On the Helsinki summit, election integrity and Mueller:" https://medium.com/@Celeste_pewter/on-the-helsinki-summit-election-integrity-and-mueller-b8ed1acde2c0

* Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab is doing a fundraiser for legal defense of refugee children in ICE detention. https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/product-category/activism/deliver-them-from-the-hands-of-the-wicked/

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

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

This has a call script to help you talk your Republican Senator into voting for the Keep Families Together Act: http://rockinhamburger.tumblr.com/post/175022988673/captacorn-marvelsmostwanted-heres-a-call

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

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

* Have something you want to tell your Congress Critters? Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to the representative of your choice.

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

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

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

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

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

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

* "North Korea drops withdrawal of US forces as condition of denuclearization, Moon says:" https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/19/asia/north-korea-us-forces-korean-peninsula-intl/index.html

* "California officials say Pentagon has confirmed National Guard funding despite Trump threat:" http://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-updates-with-one-tweet-trump-appears-to-scrap-1524156556-htmlstory.html

* "Appeals court rules against Trump policy punishing sanctuary cities:" https://www.politico.com/story/2018/04/19/appeals-court-ruling-trump-sanctuary-cities-537823

* "Judge rules against Trump administration in teen pregnancy prevention case:" http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/383996-judge-rules-trump-administrations-cut-to-teen-pregnancy-prevention-program

* "Andrew McCabe’s criminal referral, explained:" https://www.vox.com/2018/4/19/17257954/andrew-mccabe-criminal-referral

* "Cohen drops libel suits against BuzzFeed, Fusion GPS:" https://www.politico.com/story/2018/04/19/michael-cohen-drops-buzzfeed-fusion-lawsuit-537327

* "Rudy Giuliani is joining President Trump's personal legal team for the Mueller probe:" https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/19/rudy-giuliani-is-joining-president-trumps-personal-legal-team-for-the-mueller-probe.html

* "Comey memos immediately leaked after FBI delivers to Congress:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/comey-memos-immediately-leaked-after-fbi-delivers-to-congress-1215154243794

* "Comey: Trump said he talked about beauty of hookers with Putin:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/trump-putin-talked-comparative-beauty-of-hookers-in-phone-call-1215261251626

* "GOP Rep.: Mueller shouldn't be fired:" http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/gop-rep-mueller-shouldn-t-be-fired-1215141955892

* Cynthia Nixon Isn't Just Running To Make A Point":"

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* "This Parkland teacher left his gun in a public bathroom. It was loaded, BSO says.:" http://www.miamiherald.com/news/article208653029.html

* "Man Shoots Self In Foot At Macomb Township Kroger:" https://wwjnews.radio.com/articles/man-shoots-self-foot-macomb-township-kroger

* I have said all along that arming teachers flat out isn't safe, simply because there is usually one adult (or two if you have enough children with disabilities) most of the time in a room with 32-38 children. Those children developmentally suck at things like grasping their own mortality or long term cause and effect relationships. Add to this that odds are some portion of the kids in your room will have things like FAE/FAS or other issues that make them super impulsive and completely unable to think beyond "Wouldn't it be funny if...." It's not safe. You, the adult, are in a usually overcrowded environment, squeezing between pods, trying to help as many kids as possible while nipping trouble in the bud. You are incredibly busy; your attention over stretched. One of them is going to grab that gun, because it would be funny, because they really don't plan much beyond the next minute, because they are curious, because they are having a shitty day and the bully behind them won't stop poking them in the back of the neck with a pencil, or to see if they can, or one of a million other reasons. Lock it up, one of the little buggers will find a way just to see if they can, or because they are angry or scared or.... Seriously, one of they will watch for the combination if it's a combination lock. Several of them will know how to pick locks above a certain age, or if not they will find the key and try it just to see if it's a key lock. It's not safe, beyond the issues of racism on the part of the armed adults, well documented since we started putting cops in schools. School cops arrest students of colour for ordinary stupid shit they ought to get detention for because racism. It's obvious what happens if you arm the teachers and give them the same license to randomly shoot unarmed children we insist on giving cops because systemic societal racism. Kids just like my likeable but frequently foolish former students will die instead of ending up on the bench outside of the Principal's office. I'm glad no one was hurt this time, but more guns means more accidents. So let's not. "Third-grader pulls trigger on Maplewood cop’s gun, firing a shot:" https://www.twincities.com/2018/02/05/maplewood-police-officers-gun-fires-at-school-no-injuries-reported/

* Why Minimum Wage needs to be a Living wage: http://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/173091645677/reagan-was-a-horrible-president

* How enthusiastically pro-Pedophilia is the Republican Mainstream? Very, it turns out. "Kentucky Republicans kill bill to limit child marriage because parents should have right to marry off kids:" https://www.rawstory.com/2018/03/kentucky-republicans-kill-bill-limit-child-marriage-parents-right-marry-off-kids/

* "That Is Not What ‘Lovesick’ Is:" https://wonkette.com/631612/that-is-not-what-lovesick-is

* "John W. Jones: The Runaway Slave Who Buried Nearly 3000 Confederate Soldiers:" http://mentalfloss.com/article/531737/john-w-jones-runaway-slave-who-buried-nearly-3000-confederate-soldiers

* "Hans Asperger aided and supported Nazi programme, study says:" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/19/hans-asperger-aided-and-supported-nazi-programme-study-says

* "No criminal charges in Prince's death, attorney says:" https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/19/us/prince-death-investigation/index.html

* "This Story About an Offspring Drummer Turned Ob-gyn Has Everything:" https://www.thecut.com/2018/03/offspring-ob-gyn-james-lilja-saves-juror.html

* I have chills. "James Monroe Iglehart performs "Satisfied" with Javier Muñoz and Lexi Lawson from HAMILTON:"

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* "A Series of Gunfortunate Events:"

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* TW: Sexual Assault. "Thandie Newton - Playing a Formidable Android on "Westworld":"

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* "Meet the Parents Cold Open - SNL:"

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* "Not-Secretary Of State Mike Pompeo Went To North Korea:"

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* "Nikki Haley Is Standing Up To Trump And Russia:"

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* "Alan Cumming Performs 'Instinct: The Musical':"

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* "Alan Cumming Brings Gay Star Power to Prime-Time TV With 'Instinct':" https://www.out.com/out-exclusives/2018/3/19/alan-cumming-brings-gay-star-power-prime-time-tv-instinct

* "The Real Intros of Reality Hills - SNL:"

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* "Weekend Update: Laura Ingraham - SNL:"

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* I know intellectually how dangerous and difficult syncro skating is. I've seen the skaters in their casts in the kiss and cry. I've seen people get really injured in competition. I still find it weirdly relaxing to watch, much in the way watching fish swim around is relaxing. It's pretty and there's something mesmerizing about the changing figures. I wish they'd broadcast it more. All CBUT gives me is Worlds at end of season, not even Canadian Nationals, and as far as I can tell US stations flat out ignore it. I wish people liked it enough that I could actually watch it sufficiently to get a real handle on the technicals. Also, I unironically adore Marigold IceUnity. I just do.

* I can't put into words why I adore Sandra Oh's Eve Polastri in Killing Eve, but I do. I feel like this is a character I've never seen in media before, but I've met people like in real life, if that makes sense. I want to watch more of her. I smile, just thinking that this show exists.

* Rebels on Pointe delights me.

* I am doing National Poetry Month again this year, but I'm confining it to Tumblr on the grounds of tired. What the poems I selected? Five or so should turn up daily over here if you want to look them over: http://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/tagged/Poem

* I used all my money on housing and insurance last month, and this month it's all went to housing and car things. I need the car to get around as I am disabled. I need to raise about $400 to stay afloat. If you'd like to chip in: Paypal Lethran@gmail.com

* Six Days left, two no bid as of this writing. Ebay BPALs for sale:

( Specifics: )

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

* "Danes to double penalty for ghetto crime:" http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43214596

* "At French Outpost in African Migrant Hub, Asylum for a Select Few:" https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/25/world/africa/france-africa-migrants-asylum-niger.html

* "‘This Route Doesn’t Exist on the Map’:" https://newrepublic.com/article/146919/this-route-doesnt-exist-map

* TW: Rape. "‘Don’t struggle if you’re raped’: People smuggler gives chilling warning to undercover CNN reporter:" https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/27/africa/nigeria-migrant-smugglers-intl/index.html

* "Afghan boy launches UK legal challenge against refugee policy:" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/28/teenage-refugees-high-court-challenge-could-give-hope-to-thousands?utm_source=ECRE+Newsletters&utm_campaign=a0b01df1da-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_03_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_3ec9497afd-a0b01df1da-422318169

* "Women stand up for right to work in Turkey:" http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43197642

* "Russian millennials look to their future: 'If we don't do anything now, we will keep living like our parents':" http://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-russia-profiles-of-youth-20180223-htmlstory.html

* TW: Domestic Violence "Why Russia’s #MeToo moment hasn’t happened:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/why-russias-metoo-moment-hasnt-happened/2018/02/25/0b8bbf92-0514-11e8-aa61-f3391373867e_story.html?utm_term=.bd749ec92e70

* "Russia to expel 23 UK diplomats in spy row:" http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-43440992

* "Vladimir Putin secures landslide victory in Russian election:" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/18/vladimir-putin-wins-russian-election-with-more-than-70-of-vote-exit-poll

* This has Russian emigres talking about various Russia related stuff and is worth watching. "Russia’s Vladimir Putin expected to win election:" http://www.msnbc.com/am-joy/watch/russia-s-vladimir-putin-expected-to-win-election-1188949571973

* "Trump: General questions Putin’s influence over president:" http://www.msnbc.com/am-joy/watch/trump-general-questions-putin-s-influence-over-president-1188955203812

* "Cambridge Analytica: Facebook data of 50 million allegedly seized:" http://www.msnbc.com/am-joy/watch/cambridge-analytica-facebook-data-of-50-million-allegedly-seized-1188990531822

* "Russian Roulette Book: Putin, Trump and the 2016 election:" http://www.msnbc.com/am-joy/watch/russian-roulette-book-putin-trump-and-the-2016-election-1188517955628

* "Andrew McCabe: Rep. Gutierrez offers job to secure pension:" http://www.msnbc.com/am-joy/watch/andrew-mccabe-rep-gutierrez-offers-job-to-secure-pension-1188943427979

* By the time I was teaching these were a thing. It was obvious to me it was as bullshit as those duck and cover drills. I mean, theoretically one could hide in the science rooms with the big massive teacher "l" desk with bunson burner outlets, but good luck trying to get the middle schoolers to shut up entirely for five whole minutes (since in any given group of 6th-8th graders some giggle in a tense situation and others make fart sounds or poke people to relieve tension and then every one has to complain about it and once one gets them quiet, you get a long tense pause of a couple of minutes and then someone makes a fart sound or someone starts complaining about who poked them or the like.), let alone the full length of the drill, and most of the rooms had those individual table style desks, so making kids duck and cover under them was pure security theater. No way would an active shooter be fooled by 35-38 middle schoolers not really fitting under their desks. It infuriated me that we were wasting their time and stressing them out for no reason I could see. (And yes, that last year when I was literally in the process of dying for the whole first term to the point that I wasn't expected to live until Spring unless my family could raise surgery money, I used to turn off my lights, draw my shades, and hide behind my desk during planning period and pep rallies, because I was in danger from passing out from the standing and walking whenever the kids were there and I never got caught, but I was alone and reading silently under there, not crouching half in the open with a room full of anxious 6-8th graders, just saying. And before you judge me, I was twice in a straight to the ER once I was allowed to leave work at the end of the day, and on the second of these occasions, I looked so bad by the end of Wednesday it freaked out the 7th Graders and when I wasn't there the next day a rumor started I had died and they were really upset and wildly relieved. Again, a couple months to live if we didn't raise surgery money by Christmas Break, wearing a Winter coat inside, clutching the podium trying not to sway or shiver bad enough for the kids in the front row to see enough to panic, really real dying). Anyway, we were shit out of luck, in pretty much any room I taught in a real situation, and anyway a student shooter would know the procedures from the active shooter drill like it said in the article. The kids knew it too and would complain about how useless it was. "What Are the Psychological Effects of 'Active-Shooter Drills'?:" https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2018/02/effects-of-active-shooter/554150/

* "Marielle Franco: Brazil’s favelas mourn the death of a champion:" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/18/marielle-franco-brazil-favelas-mourn-death-champion

* "More than 100 cities now mostly powered by renewable energy, data shows :" https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/feb/27/cities-powered-clean-energy-renewable

* "Flood risk from American rivers is greatly underestimated:" https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/02/180228112520.htm

* "The First (Documented) Black Woman to Serve in the U.S. Army:" https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/cathay-williams-buffalo-soldier

* Correction: Apparently it's a Windows 8 Computer. I'd mismembered which one was mostly patching and re-branding. So Windows 8 vs 10.

* TW: Rape. We need to talk about Neegan.

Look, I get it, Walking Dead Fandom, Jeffrey Dean Morgan is an extremely sexy guy. He's good looking, he has an appealing laugh, he moves in a particularly appealing way, he seems really comfortable in his masculinity when he's out of character, and it was delightful watching him flirt with Craig Ferguson on the Late Late Show. Trust me, I Get It. You also have every right to ship whoever the fuck you want without being hassled or kink shamed for it. The thing I am about to say does not even a little apply to shippers. If loss of control fantasies are your thing, there is nothing wrong with that. Again, what I'm saying has 0% to do with shipping.

My issue is not with shipping, but with the Mainstream non-porn related discourse, mostly between straight cis men, which treats the Character Neegan as the moral equivalent of Rick. Look, I strongly dislike Rick and think he makes a lot of shitty decisions and don't think he's half the leader show!Maggie or Book!Michonne is or any Glen was, or example. At the same time? Rick never raped any one. Neegan? Has a rape camp in his compound. He forces woman to have sex with him and his lieutenant on pain of starvation, torture, or death. Canonically, the women in the rape camp tried to kill him in a recent season because he is their rapist. Whatever one can say about shitty straight white cis male leader on the Walking Dead show and their bad and good leadership choices, I can tell Neegan is the villain because he goes around murdering and torturing people and he has a rape camp. I have to side eye everyone making the argument that if Neegan had been the main character of Walking Dead from the start of the show we'd see him as the hero.

No. I wouldn't. I point again to the Rape Camp. No one regularly raping and women and causing them to be raped is a Good Guy. This is not a gray area. There are gray areas about say, whether a particular killing can be justified for the good of the group, for example. At the same time even weaselly, self agendaed, back stabbing Gregory didn't rape any one we know of. Sex in Alexandra, the Kingdom, Oceancide, and Hilltop is consensual as far as we've seen except for possibly in that one Domestic violence situation where I can't remember what all went on and they killed that guy. Just saying.

Neegan is a rapist, and any discourse claiming that really he's a good guy who is just misunderstood ignores the literal iron burns on that one guy's face and Neegan raping all those women. It ignores the murder of Glen. It ignores a couple of seasons of seemingly endless atrocities. So, no. Not redeemable. Not Misunderstood. Not the Good Guy.

* I used all my money on housing and insurance this month. I need to raise 200-240 for the other bills, so it's ebay time. 3ish days left, 1 no bid last I looked: https://www.ebay.com/sch/lethran/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

* "Spain's civil CRISIS: Police boats BLOCKED by Catalan ports as unrest continues to grow:" http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/857208/Catalan-independence-crisis-military-police-boats-blocked

* "Nicaragua Joins Paris Accord, Leaving Trump Alone With Syria:" https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-20/as-nicaragua-joins-paris-accord-trump-left-alone-with-syria

* "Trump Boosts North Korea Sanctions, Adding Economic Pressure:" https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-21/trump-is-said-to-announce-north-korea-sanctions-at-meeting-today

* "Trump leaning toward decertifying Iran nuclear deal, sources say:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/trump-leaning-toward-decertifying-iran-nuclear-deal-say-sources-n803121

* "Trump finds others to pay family legal bills:"

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* "Manafort used Trump campaign account to email Ukrainian operative:" http://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/20/paul-manafort-trump-campaign-email-ukrainian-operative-242949

* "Trump hires campaign workers instead of farm experts at USDA:" http://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/21/trump-agriculture-department-usda-campaign-workers-242951

* "Chris Murphy: The GOP is buying votes:"

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* Spoiler: Yes, of course he will. "Will you vote to hurt your state, congressman?:"

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* "A gay Swedish antifascist spent a year undercover with white supremacists. Here’s what he found.:" https://thinkprogress.org/a-gay-sweedish-antifascist-spent-a-year-undercover-with-white-supremacists-heres-what-he-found-92d070611ed9/

* "My Houston Statue Replacement Suggestions:" http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2017/09/my-houston-statue-replacement.html

* "Teaching Sept. 11 To Students Who Were Born After The Attacks:" http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/09/11/549532978/teaching-sept-11-to-students-who-were-born-after-the-attacks-happened

* "BILL GATES - IMPROVING GLOBAL HEALTH WITH THE BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION - EXTENDED INTERVIEW:"

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* "Archaeology: Ancient seeds, pollen show Ohio’s ‘lost crops’:" http://www.dispatch.com/news/20170820/archaeology-ancient-seeds-pollen-show-ohios-lost-crops

* "Confederate submarine crew killed by their own weapon:" https://phys.org/news/2017-08-confederate-submarine-crew-weapon.html

* "Hurricane Mueller Storms the Trump Administration:"

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* Two days of proper sleep are helping, though I am still sporadically feverish and my lungs are still heavy. When I get the second half of the pneumococcal, I intend to plan for two weeks of ick. To reiterate? Still beyond worth it to avoid a likely 10+ cases of pneumonia.

* First stage Gothmas decorations. I may be covered in fever sweat but I have pretty lights.: http://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/165598649826/first-stage-gothmas-decorations-i-may-be-covered

* How many years/decades will it be before they make a lego movie with a female lead?

* Jamie Lannister and Aerys Targaryen: http://turtle-paced.tumblr.com/post/165507146137/was-jaime-justified-in-killing-aerys-he-had

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

* We need money for taxes so ebay time again. These won't sell fast enough to solve this month, but can help with the mess this month leaves behind.: http://www.ebay.com/usr/lethran?_trksid=p2047675.l2559

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

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

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

* "Congress Wants to Change the Americans with Disabilities Act and Undermine the Civil Rights of People with Disabilities:" http://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/165470116342/congress-wants-to-change-the-americans-with

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

* "History tells us what may happen next with Brexit & Trump:" https://medium.com/@theonlytoby/history-tells-us-what-will-happen-next-with-brexit-trump-a3fefd154714#.li5jz1r30

* "Racist segregationist politics not so far back in US history:"

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* "Trump makes extreme choice in Flynn for NSA:"

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* "Racism concerns surround Jeff Sessions as Trump's AG pick:"

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* "Pompeo likely to win approval from Congress as CIA chief:"

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* It's not just Steve Bannon. Trump is moving other old school white supremacist/autocrats into key administration roles.

* "Alternate Support Structures: What You Can Do Right Now:" https://medium.com/@oddletters/alternate-support-structures-what-you-can-do-right-now-732c1c7212#.g1rlu8kfz

* "What do we do now?:" https://medium.com/@twineapprised/what-do-we-do-now-94215298ae93#.4za8mic10

* "Exclusive - Wesley Lowery Extended Interview:"

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* "How South Africa Could Prepare the U.S. for President Trump:"

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* "President Obama's Worldwide Farewell Tour:"

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* "Trump Dumps the Press:"

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* "President-Elect Trump's Prospective Administration of Deplorables:"

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* "Ben Carson Rejects a Trump Cabinet Post:"

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* One of the weird things about the way the curriculum works in my state is that 8th graders get Anne Frank in their lit class, but they won't be studying the Great depression, WWII, and the Holocaust until late in High School. This doesn't mean that the kids have never heard of these things, but they don't really have much context for random stuff they've picked up from the culture at large.

So I'd start Anne Frank with them, but they'd invariably either in the first or second day of the unit, have all these questions that would boil down to "Why did the Germans let this happen?" or more simply "How Did Hitler Happen?" (I was a huge fan of letting them ask questions to "get me off topic" that actually led to them learning things, and some of my best lessons involved tying other subjects together with whatever I was meant to be teaching in ways that both got them thinking and answered real questions about the world). So having come to teach core from the History side instead of the lit side, I'd have answers. I would do this whole quick summary of how WWI led to the Weimer Republic lead to economic desperation lead to people being particularly vulnerable to a demagogue doing racist/anti-Semitic scapegoating. Thus to Hitler and the Holocaust about which I'd do my best to help them understand the horror of viscerally without actually going so far as to get fired, answering their questions as they came up along the way.

At the end of what was an invariably mindblowing and grim fucking 30-50 minutes, they would be staring at me open mouthed, an I would say something like, "Remember this when you are old enough to vote, that people will do terrible and irrational things if they are desperate enough. It can happen anywhere people are vigilant enough about stopping it." The whole rest of the unit there were no inappropriate giggles and next to no disruption, because they generally really got it.

I wonder how many of them still remember it, now they are all adults.

*****

* Suicide Crisis numbers: http://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/153016816845/non-us-crisis-line-list

* Victim of a Hate Crime? Report to the police first, but also report here to help the SPLC track incidents: https://www.splcenter.org/reporthate

* Trans Relief Project: http://transrelief.com/

* General Charities list to help groups being targeted in Trump's America: http://lovingmyselfishard.tumblr.com/post/153111297079/charities-that-may-need-some-love-in-the-upcoming

* Where to donate to help Immigrants: http://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/153016818518/colinfirth-carecen-la-center-for-community

* "List of Standing Rock Resources:" https://laughingacademy.tumblr.com/post/152671392633/list-of-standing-rock-resources

* Hurricane Matthew has been catastrophic for the people of Haiti. 800 or more are dead and 60,000 or more displaced. Want to help?

Haitian local charities: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10154561836757433&set=a.84340697432.97916.713622432&type=3&theater
Doctors Without Borders: http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/country-region/haiti
Red Cross: https://www.redcross.org/donate/disaster-relief?donationProdId=prod12750029&scode=RSG00000E017&gclid=COnZ5tmJys8CFRBEfgodzWoPXQ

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

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

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

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

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

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

* "Colombia President Santos offers truce with Farc:" http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-34661146

* "Bob Dole buries big, old hatchet with Bush endorsement:"

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* "Politicians' 'Secret information' a factual red flag:"

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* "Worlds collide: Reading poetry at a Donald Trump rally:"

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* "Why is Trump hailing 'Operation Wetback?':"

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* "Shocking video of police encounter:"

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* "What the Mizzou protests are really about:"

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* "Cop Handcuffed 7-Year-Old Boy for No Reason and then He Lost the Key:" http://thefreethoughtproject.com/cop-handcuffed-7-year-old-boy-misplaced-key/

* There is zero reason to hand cuff a seven year old. Seriously. Yes, some of them can be pretty violent, though this child wasn’t. Look at the size differential between even a large seven year old and the average adult. It’s not that hard to restrain an unarmed seven year old gently until the child calms down, which usually isn’t long because nearly all of them have tiny attention spans.

And can we just stop arresting children for things that aren’t actual crimes?

I am tempted to paste one of my other rants on over policing children and proper classroom discipline, like the one I did a few weeks ago after that police thug brutalized a bereaved child who just lost her mother and just landed in foster care for using a phone, breaking her arm and giving her a concussion, traumatizing a room full of other children in the process.

As someone who taught for a living and loved it and only gave it up because my body couldn’t do it anymore, I am furious. Job one for a teacher is to keep the children safe. You never bring in an outside authority to hurt children. Arresting and humiliating a seven year old for having a disability is not protecting the children; it is deliberately harming them. calling in a violent thug to brutally beat a child in mourning is not protecting the children. It is cruelty that oes permanent damage not only to that child, but every child in the room. It breaks the relationship between teacher and students that makes learning possible and traumatized children have trouble learning. We are getting ionto human rights abuse areas for no good reason at all except naked racism.

I am honestly shaking I am so angry and I’m struggling for words that are not obscene, though I know no words as obscene as an act of cruelty like this perpetrated on a child so young.

* "Cop accused of raping black women gets all white jury:" http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/king-accused-raping-black-women-white-jury-article-1.2423160

* "New Spike Lee film spotlights Chicago gang violence:" http://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2015/11/12/chicago-violence-spike-lee-movie-cooper-dnt-ac.cnn

* "It's NOT about the Bathrooms:"

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* "Autogynophilia pathologizes normal female behavior:" http://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/133050624532/autogynophilia-pathologizes-normal-female-behavior

* "Upcoming 20th Anniversary Of Chanelle Pickett's Murder:" http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2015/11/upcoming-20th-anniversary-of-chanelle.html

* "Happy Veterans Day 2015, Trans Vets!:" http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2015/11/happy-veterans-day-2015-trans-vets.html

* "Oldest evidence of breast cancer found in Egyptian skeleton:" http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/24/us-egypt-antiquities-cancer-idUSKBN0MK20620150324#pVKlpobSTdvMGOoG.97

* "Economic Schools of Thought: Crash Course Economics #14 :"

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* "Wrecked oil train had passed nuclear missile silos:"

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* "What the Actual Fact? - Truth and Fiction in the GOP Debate:"

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* "Blacklash 2016: The Unblackening - Dumbing It Down at the GOP Debate:"

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* "Blacklash 2016: The Unblackening - Donald Trump Is Stupid:"

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* "American Heroes: Campaign Donors Go Big:"

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* "The Federal Election Commission: As Useful as Men's Nipples:"

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* "The Myanmar Daily Show:"

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* "The Fight Before Christmas - Bloomingdale's Eggnog Ad & Starbucks Cup Controversy:"

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* I actually did get my notes ready in time and was prepared to go, but the boys turned up soaked and frozen out of the storm, just as I was waiting for the oven to get hot enough for the biscuits. I made hot chocolate and we ate and chatted instead as after their trek through win and rain warm and cheerful was what was called for.

It's fine. I woke up feverish again anyway. I've had this pathogen since April and the fever rises and falls like a tide.

* "The linguistics of horror:" http://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/133126946962/the-linguistics-of-horror

* "Fangs For The Fantasy: The Librarians, Season Two, Episode Three:And What Lies Beneath the Stones:" http://www.fangsforthefantasy.com/2015/11/the-librarians-season-two-episode.html

* "Sunday Sweets Gets OVER DRAMATIC:" http://www.cakewrecks.com/home/2015/11/8/sunday-sweets-gets-over-dramatic.html

* "The Great Fucks Famine of 2015:" http://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/133055264912/uglyfun-just-read-it-source-behind-closed

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

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

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

* "John Kasich tells audience member they'd 'get over' his Social Security plan:" http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/09/politics/john-kasich-get-over-it-social-security/

* "America wants you to suffer: The staggering ways we punish our college graduates:" http://www.salon.com/2015/10/10/14131480_partner/?utm_source=Tumblr&utm_medium=Tumblr%20Share&utm_campaign=Tumblr

* I just saw another pundit out stigmatizing folks on psyche meds which is cruel, inaccurate, and dangerous, because way more people die or get way sicker than they otherwise would be because of the stigma discouraging them from seeking help. The brain is an organ. Needing to take meds to function normally shouldn't be stigmatized whether that med is insulin, welbutrin, prozac, or the celebrex that let's me walk around my apartment most days instead of being pretty much a wheelchair user which is the alternative given the level of spinal damage I have.

When it comes to medication for minors, I am a moderate because I was a teacher. Let me explain what that means. 1. Medications are mostly tested on adult white cis men. This is a huge fucking problem, because bodies vary wildly. If you do all your testing on a narrow, homogeneous population you do not get an accurate picture of what that drug will do at that dosage when released into the wild. Adult cis white men are not the default body. There have been huge problems with overdoses caused by the average woman or child being smaller than the average adult man. There have been issues caused by hormones, body fat, and structural differences interacting with medications differently. There have been problems because the developing brains and bodies of adolescents interact with meds differently, and overdoses caused because they are basically guessing at what the dose of something ought to be for a nine year old girl based on dosage for a forty year old man. People are horribly injured, sometimes permanently, and people die. There is pretty much no testing on what medications I in trans bodies, which means often deadly surprises for trans folk and doctors innocently following dosage directions that have zero data on what they will do to our bodies. I have a list of meds issues related to my transness that are as we speak word of mouthing between GPs who treat trans people because there is nothing in the text books they studied in college about a potentially deadly thing that happened to me and some other trans people in my region that likely happens to a significant percentage of us all over the world but isn't in any of the literature. The reason we know it's an issue is because trans folk do a lot of medical word of mouth. If that doesn't scare you it should. I think that the FDA should not clear any drug for use in the general population without a good sample size of both men and women with diverse racial and body types. No drug should be given to children or teens without having been tested and normed on a good sample size of people of more than one gender and a variety of body types in that age range. So that's a real problem and it needs to have changed like decades ago and there is no sign of it changing now.

2. One of the standard "educational reforms" mostly intended to save money is to cut out recess, phys ed., art, and music classes. This is done supposedly to make more time for "the basics." The problem is that if you cut those things you dramatically decrease the effectiveness of the academic class time. No really. I mean, yes, it's anecdotally obvious if you spend any time at all teaching K-12, particularly the 1-8 range, but there are lots of scientific studies backing up what any teacher can tell you. It turns out that retention is dramatically increased if you go out and do something physical after studying. Going out and running around or shooting hoops or whatever at regular intervals not only burns off energy and is healthier for your body, but it gives your brain important time to process whatever it is you just learned. It turns out that varying activity generally is good for you, and music and art are particularly helpful to certain types of learners. There are good, sound brain sience reasons that private schools leave in all the enrichment activities rather than cutting them for academics: that time spent oing other things enhances student learning and people who can afford to buy the best education for their children side with science over sentiment. Education reformers cut things we know are objectively good for the students because of unconscious classism: they don't want the children of the poor to ever have nice things. They consider what turns out to be fairly essential to the children's ability to focus in class and retain what they learned as frivolous. These are often the same people wanting to starve children to punish them for bad grades when we know that objectively, hungry children have a hard time focusing on tasks or retaining knowledge and that hungry children are more likely to act out in class. Feeding them three nutritious meals a day would be a much better way to improve student learning than starving them, but rich people love punishing poverty instead of giving people a ladder to climb out of it, so that's how policy is set.

What does this have to do with meds? In schools where I was allowed to hand a child a pass and send zim out to do a lap or two around the school in exchange for the child then sitting down and working hard the rest of the period, I had a lot more compliance from kids who really did want to work, but couldn't. It was much more effective and humane than a discipline referral. Would more recess and options to let kids run around a little more magically remove the need for meds? Hell no. I've seen kids with real dangerous depression. I've seen kids with ADHD who absolutely needed their meds to have a prayer of accomplishing anything that day. I've seen kids with less common issues who needed one type of medication or another. I absolutely think that there are children who need pharmaceutical help of one sort or another. That help was generally most effective when mixed with other sorts of help and support. Sometimes that help would be from a psychiatric professional, or a special ed teacher, or an occupational therapist, because often serious need for meds also comes with a need for coping strategies or other issues needing addressing. In pretty much all cases the children do better with a flexible and compassionate classroom teacher interested in partnering with the kid to find things that will help them deal with right now and getting through today productively and with a minimum of embarrassment.

So call me a moderate. Stigmatizing these children as lazy or violent or just needing to pull up their pants and get to work is the opposite of helping. It is in fact a lie that really can hurt people. I do favour a more global approach to the well being of each child. It shouldn't just be medicate them and forget them. It should be the right dose, combined with a variety of non-pharmaceutical help, tailored for what is best for the child and the room full of children as a whole. When I walked into that room every morning, my goal was for every one of the people under my care to have a pleasant and productive day. That went the same for the kid on insulin as it went for the kid on Ritalin or prozac or the kid who's english reading skills were still developing or the kid who was scared because ze didn't know where ze was going to be sleeping tonight. I couldn't fix all the problems, but I could sure try to make sure everyone felt safe in my room and had the best chance I could give them of learning something today whatever the hell else was going on in their lives.

So fuck you, Bill Maher!

* Someone should do a montage of news casters and pundits complaining about the Democratic presidential candidates being decent human beings capable of policy discussion without name calling and thus bad for ratings.

* "Ben Carson comments, favorability misaligned:"

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* "The super wealthy's impact on the presidential campaign:"

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* "Facts dispute 'Ferguson effect' on crime rate:"

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* "By the numbers: US police kill more in days than other countries do in years:" http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jun/09/the-counted-police-killings-us-vs-other-countries

* Reality vs. fantasy in an active shooter situation: http://big-wired.tumblr.com/post/130838296818/anyanka-eg-daji-ruhu-that-whole-schtick

* NWS "Students Plan To Open-Carry Dildos Over Controversial Texas Campus Gun Law:" http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/10/10/ut-gun-carry-protest/

* "National Coming Out Day 2015:" http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2015/10/national-coming-out-day-2015.html

* "Sunday Sweets Welcomes A Slice Of Fall:" http://www.cakewrecks.com/home/2015/10/11/sunday-sweets-welcomes-a-slice-of-fall.html

* Yes, I watched it, but I really can’t seem to process it properly, so I’m linking you the fangs review. "American Horror Story (Hotel): Season 5, Episode 1: Checking In:" http://www.fangsforthefantasy.com/2015/10/american-horror-story-hotel-season-5.html

* "How to Dance Goth:"

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

* A list of LGBTQA Charities to donate money to instead of seeing the racist Stonewall Movie that decided to portray a black trans woman activist as a cis white man. http://awkward0w1.tumblr.com/post/126399233673

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

* "Yemen crisis: Famine threatens war-torn country, warns UN :" http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-33998006

* "The children 'left behind' in Bangladesh :" http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-34013190

* A would be mass shooter on a train in France was stopped after injuring three people when some Americans and a Brit tackled him.

* "Trump finds common cause on immigration in Alabama:"

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* Effective Police Reform. "Campaign Zero:" http://www.joincampaignzero.org/#vision

* "Shaun King And Why We’re So Quick To Believe White Folks:" http://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/127314463382/shaun-king-and-why-were-so-quick-to-believe-white

* "IA Radio Host Jan Mickelson: Enslave Undocumented Immigrants Unless They Leave:" http://mediamatters.org/blog/2015/08/19/ia-radio-host-jan-mickelson-enslave-undocumente/205020

* "Rowan County Clerk's Office Defies Federal Judge's Order:" http://www.lex18.com/story/29778096/rowan-county-clerk-defies-federal-judges-order?utm_source=facebook_LEX_18

* Teachers Infographic: http://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/127322948967/and-remembering-out-of-that-salary-they-are-paying

* "Rev. RG Green: “No True Christian Woman Should Experience The Perversion Of The Female Orgasm”:" http://theoswatch.com/rev-rg-green-no-true-christian-woman-should-experience-the-perversion-of-the-female-orgasm/

In other words, Reverend R.G. Green is so bad at sex he can’t get a woman to experience even a little pleasure and wants all other men to be just as bad at it.

* "Watch 70 horrific instances of Fox News sexism in under 6 minutes:" http://www.salon.com/2015/08/19/watch_70_horrific_instances_of_fox_news_sexism_in_under_6_minutes/?utm_source=Tumblr&utm_medium=Tumblr%20Share&utm_campaign=Tumblr

* "Black Lives Matter Activists Daunasia Yancey and Julius Jones:"

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* "Knowledge College - Birthright Citizenship 101:"

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* "So This Is the Hill You Want to Die On? - Banning Gay Adoption:"

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* It was a good thing I stayed up to mail the ebays first thing, despite the long line. (One open register and customs forms take a lot of laborious typing from the Postal Worker. When they changed up the regs to make it so difficult and time consuming, it was the cause of my favorite one taking early retirement. The poor young lady was terribly embarrassed at it taking so long and appologised to the whole line.) 35 minutes in, they finally opened a second register and they took the guy ahead of me and me at that one, which really helped). Anyway, I was already showing signs of my condition worsening as I waited, and I was terribad sick all day. Apparently I needed twelvish hours of sleep (broken by bouts of terribad), and another 3-4 hours of lounging about before I could pull it together enough to get out of bed. At least my lungs have improved from close to needing an oxygen tank to crappy, but bearable. I am shaky as hell, but I was able to eat. The dishes need doing, the tanks need changing, all I've managed to do today was read about a third of a light novel and rewatch 2ish episodes of the John Addams mini-series. I have also fed plants, cats, and fish, but that goes without saying, really. They eat before I do. There are so many fry in the community tanks, it does by heart good.

* 13 nights of Halloween Swap: http://www.bpal.org/topic/87274-13-nights-of-halloween-2015-edition-sign-ups-open/

* Ebay:

Lindworm 2012 (LE, DragonCon, Event Exclusive): (Company says: Smoky green leather smeared with crushed grasses and wild herbs). 3/4 Full. http://www.ebay.com/itm/301718133830?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

* A list of LGBTQA Charities to donate money to instead of seeing the racist Stonewall Movie that decided to portray a black trans woman activist as a cis white man. http://awkward0w1.tumblr.com/post/126399233673

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

* Trying to stay afloat until September: http://www.gofundme.com/cuovws or Lethran@gmail.com