Link Me Up, Scotty - All Aretha Edition

Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Today's Link Me Up is dedicated entirely to Aretha Franklin's rendition of (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, which she performed at the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors last night to honor Carole King, who co-wrote the song.

Go full screen, crank it up, and enjoy. Awesome. 

Link Me Up, Scotty - Peace on Earth Edition

Friday, December 25, 2015
Kenyan Muslims protect Christians during a terrorist attack. Because when they're willing to kill your brother, it's only a matter of time until they come for you.

H/T Brother Seth
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28 pictures that prove that 2015 wasn't a completely terrible year. 22 is my favorite, as the young man was having trouble with his tie until the woman directed her husband to help him. For some reason, this warms the cockles of my black, black heart.
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A woman with three children had her husband, a tattoo artist, depict their kids in her tattoos over ten years ago. All of them have needed touching up over the years, but when their daughter made the decision to transition to his male self, Dad took up the needle once again. I love this so much.
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Random shopper mistaken for Santa, jumps in with both feet. Because he's AWESOME.
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Christmas photos to warm the cockles of your black, black heart.
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If you're financially literate, then do your friends and family a favor and share your knowledge
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Video of my Heart: The Christmas Story as told by children. My favorite part: "We have nothing to WEAR."


Link Me Up, Scotty - Humanity Edition

Saturday, December 19, 2015
Photos of the human race.
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Zen Pencils with a quote from RFK on the Mindless Menace of Violence.
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What is means to be young, talented, and black. A pictorial essay of Hillside High School’s award-winning marching band. 
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A conversation between a father and son on what it means to look at a woman, and the responsibilities of being a man. The money quote:
There are two views regarding a woman’s dress code that you will be pressured to buy into. One view will say that women need to dress to get the attention of men. The other view will say women need to dress to protect men from themselves. Son, you are better than both of these. A woman, or any human being, should not have to dress to get your attention. You should give them the full attention they deserve simply because they are a fellow human being. On the other side, a woman should not have to feel like she needs to protect you from you. You need to be in control of you.
 H/T Brother Steve 
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Shipmate and friend Jim Wright describes the job interview process he wishes were in place for Presidential candidates and why the GOP debates are basically semantically null shitstorms. ________

Video of my Heart: The U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard and Drill Team perform in Oslo, Norway in 2009, taking first place in the Tattoo competition. Those are my Shippies, right there.

H/T Dottie


Sea Change

Thursday, December 17, 2015

 

On December 3rd, the Secretary of Defense announced that the Armed Forces would begin offering all jobs, including ground combat positions, to qualified women. This announcement includes the various Special Forces units, such as the Navy SEALS, Army Special Forces, etc.:
“There will be no exceptions,” Carter said. “This means that, as long as they qualify and meet the standards, women will now be able to contribute to our mission in ways they could not before.”
Naturally, this announcement stirred up a shitstorm. Will the standards be lowered to accommodate women? Will women's inclusion in combat units negatively affect unit cohesion? Will women now be subject to Selective Service? Will PMS play a role in women's effectiveness in combat?*

These are all concerns that need to be addressed. Well, except for that last one. Several people have asked me my thoughts, so here they are. Please note I have a tendency to use Navy-centric terminology because of my background, but I'm quite sure the same points apply to the other branches, as well.

Will the Special Forces lower their standards to accomodate women? 

I sure as hell hope not. The standards are there for a reason, and people's lives depend on their shipmates being able to meet them. Will maintaining them mean that fewer women will be able to qualify for these jobs? Damn straight. The same way they weed out men who are not fit enough, strong enough, or agile enough to meet them. Men have been washing out of BUD/S for decades, and no one ever suggested the Navy lower their standards so more of these poor, delicate snowflakes could be included in the program. What's the difference? A woman (like a man) who applies to be a SEAL isn't really interested in being protected. 

Will women's inclusion in combat units negatively affect unit cohesion?

Meh. I’m not going to be baited on this one. This is the same nonsense we went through when women were first assigned overseas, assigned to support ships, allowed to serve at all. Integration won’t be easy, but the cultural shift will occur, just as it's done for every other sea change in the military. As my friend Sarah brought up, we have always fought, and attempts to rewrite history to downplay women's roles doesn't change that. 

Will women now be subject to the draft in the same way men are?

I think the better question here is why the hell aren't they now? Here's the thing about wanting "equal opportunity." To achieve true equality, to be considered truly equal in the eyes of your peers, you MUST accept equal responsibility and equal risk. During my early years in the Navy, I was not afforded the same responsibility as my male peers. I couldn't serve on combat vessels, and in fact many women completed their entire careers without serving on Auxiliary ships, either. I was not subject to the selective service. And yet, I received the same pay and benefits as my male peers with similar rank and years of service. No wonder women weren't treated as equals - in the eyes of many men, we had all the perqs and none of the risk. The fact that these circumstances weren't my fault or my choice didn't make my male shipmates feel any differently about it.

By forcing women to participate in Selective Service in the same way men are, we are acknowledging that we are equal partners in citizenship with our male fellows. We accept the same privileges, as well as the same responsibilities and risks, as everyone else who's allowed to vote in this country. On a moral level, this is only right and fair.

Will PMS play a role in women's effectiveness in combat?

Really? THAT'S the question you think deserves the most consideration in this integration effort? Get the fuck out of here - adults are talking.
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I have no doubt that after the current generation of service members retire, the integration of women into these roles will be complete and with the exception of a few neanderthal hold-outs, people in uniform will wonder what all the fuss was about. In the meantime, professional Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Guardsmen will continue to do what needs to be done, and let the pearl-clutchers and hand-wringers burn themselves out. They always do.


*I wish to fuck I was making that last one up.

Link Me Up, Scotty - Racists and Joy Edition

Tuesday, December 15, 2015
The end of the year is approaching, so it's time for the annual "best of" lists. First up: The best Boston Globe photographs of 2015.
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Also from the Boston Globe, a pictorial essay of a family's struggle with homelessness and abuse. This broke my heart, especially since I know there are many, many more families who struggle in this way.
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Bowe Bergdahl is facing Court Martial on the charges of desertion and endangering troops. I recall there was a lot of controversy about the government's decision to retrieve SGT Bergdahl from the Taliban, but I have to say that this turn of events is exactly correct. We don't leave our own - no matter what they've done - to the enemy. We take care of our own, in every sense of that statement. Honor demands no less.
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The newest, most marvelous Facebook page: Spellcheck a Racist. You're welcome.

H/T Not-My-Terry
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Man reunites with a woman who saved him from the Holocaust 70 years ago. THERE'S SOMETHING IN MY EYE.

H/T Brother Vince
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Yet another incident of Trump supporters attacking an African American at one of his rallies. These fucking people. Really? Nazi rhetoric? THAT'S the way you want to go?

H/T Brother Paul
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Video of my Heart: Pentatonix performs The First Noel. Still fan-girling on their bass (Avi Kaplan) who is featured in this song, but I'm starting to think their countertenor, Mitch, needs to eat a sammich.


Link Me Up, Scotty - Being Human Edition

Monday, December 14, 2015
New information on how teens grow into adulthood, and how identity and emotion will guide them to the people they will become.
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How do you get boys to go to a class on treating girls with respect? Make attendance a point of pride and prestige in the community.
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Since that ignoramus Donald Trump couldn't name any Muslim athletes, here's a list of 38 graciously provided via that technological marvel otherwise known as "Google."
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Exercise really is the most amazing thing. Sedentary people often don't understand its significance, and don't get what a difference it can make in your life.
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I've been appalled to discover how much rent costs here in the Denver metro area. Here's a comparison of what $1,000 a month will get you in various parts of the country.
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Professional photographer Dave Sandford captures Lake Erie in all its power and fury. Amazing.

H/T Brother Seth
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White Supremacists love the Donald Trump campaign. And in other news, water is wet. I would warn those who think Trump is anything other than an ignorant bigot: You're going to be judged by the company you keep.
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Navy Dad photobombs his kids' Christmas photo after a year long deployment.
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A Muslim judge chooses to use the Q'uran when taking her oath of office, and so conservative whackadoos predictably lose their collective shit. Clearly these people have a failure to understand what an oath is, or why someone who is not a Christian should not swear one on a Bible.
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Video of my heart: Disturbed's cover of Simon and Garfunkel's Sound of Silence. I love this song, and I have to admit this is probably my new favorite version.


Link Me Up, Scotty - Short Form Edition

Saturday, December 12, 2015
An essay on the dangers of not taking the campaign if Donald Trump seriously enough. I agree with what Steve says in principle, and I can tell you that if Donald Trump wins the Republican nomination for President, I will be more politically active than I've been in any other election. I never thought I'd be a "door-knocker" for politics, but the idea of President Trump scares me sufficiently that I'll change my mind.
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Brother Eric on those asinine douchenozzles in Texas who intend to do some sort of performance art get together to prove that a "good guy with a gun" is the right resolution to a nutjob with a gun. The obtuseness of these yokels is exceeded only by their poor taste. As Eric notes, fuck 'em.
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Young Saudi women use video games to expand their horizons and social circles. Fascinating.

H/T Brother Steve
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Companies with women on their boards do better. Shocked, shocked I am that diverse teams are higher performing than homogeneous ones.
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A photo essay of some of the members of the Somali diaspora, currently residing in Minnesota. I find it endlessly fascinating how more traditional cultures manage to preserve their heritage and still embrace modern life.
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Arizona Republican Senator Jeff Flake attended services with his family at a local Mosque. His comments were ones of solidarity and support. Bravo, Senator.
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Los Angeles company Meathead Movers offers free moving services to the victims of domestic violence. I love this so much. You never know when a simple act of corporate charity will change someone else's life in a profound way.

Random Acts of Remembrance

Wednesday, December 9, 2015
In the summer of 2014, I sponsored a Kickstarter project organized by some friends of Moe's. They're a group of artists who call themselves the the Atomic Pixies, and they wanted to create a unique Tarot Card deck with original artwork.

I sponsored them because they were some of Moe's closest friends, and also because one of my "perqs" for the level at which I sponsored them was a custom piece of artwork in the same style as the deck with a subject of my choosing.

Well, my deck and the accompanying reference book arrived in yesterday's mail. The art is indeed interesting and beautiful, and if you're interested in such things, I recommend you run right over to their website and order a set for yourself or someone you love:




And here's the dedication:




Thank you, Girls. I'm sure she would have loved it, and I can't wait to see the custom piece when it's done. 

Link Me Up, Scotty - Weapons and Destruction Edition

Tuesday, December 8, 2015
The Muslim community here in the U.S. feels compelled to condemn bad behavior by members of its community as soon as possible. Why they choose to do this should be painfully, embarrassingly, obvious.
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Analysis on why your guns are not going to allow you to resist the government and other logical fallacies. There are a number of logically sound and defensible arguments in opposition of gun control, but this is not one of them. Using it as such makes you sound like an ignorant yokel.
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Speaking of Muslims and the San Bernardino shooting, they're raising money for the victim's families, as well.
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When even Exxon/Mobil is issuing dire warnings about climate change, you know we're well and truly fucked.
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Talking productively about guns and gun control isn't easy, and most partisans are hacks with nothing to say. I'm glad I'm not the only one who's sick to death of it.
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The Department of Justice has opened a wide ranging investigation into the Chicago Police Department as a result of a pattern of misconduct, racial profiling, and the use of deadly force. This is going to suck for the CPD, in the same way the Tailhook investigation sucked for those of us on active duty during that embarrassing time. But you know what? The Navy was a very different place post-Tailhook, a much better place, and I hope that the CPD will find itself in similar circumstances after the DOJ is done and reforms are put in place.
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New Popehat contributor Marc Randazza takes on the idea of 'safe spaces' and how academia doesn't provide them for conservatives, only for liberals. Speaking as a dirty, dirty liberal, I totally agree with Mr. Randazza on this point. I think "safe spaces" should be reserved for support groups, not politics, and it's ridiculous for there to be systemic stifling of free speech in an academic environment, regardless of which end of the spectrum is speaking. If you have an opinion and you choose to express it, you should NOT be prevented from doing so. The other side of that coin, of course, is that you should NOT be protected from the social consequences of your choice. No one should pull punches in refuting your idea, and if your idea is stupid/racist/illogical/unserious, then you shouldn't be surprised when people say so. And none of this speech should be censored, and no one should be shielded from it, especially in college. Grow an intellectual pair, why don't you, and gird your loins for battle in the marketplace of ideas. Complaints that someone's idea hurt your fee-fees do not go very far in discrediting those ideas or convincing others to your point of view.
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Neil Peart, one of the best drummers in several generations, has formally announced his retirement. Neil's not a young man anymore, and his music is very physically demanding, so I get why he's making this choice. He wants to spend time with his family, and the same is true of his band-mates. It's just the end of an era for me, as Rush's Moving Pictures tour was the first rock concert I ever went to. The Smart Man and I have also tried to attend their shows whenever they were in town, including their 40th Anniversary Tour just a few months ago. They're getting old, and by extension, I guess that means I am, too.

Link Me Up, Scotty - Science, Solace and Service Edition

Sunday, December 6, 2015
Scientists and ethicists are debating the limits of genetic manipulation. The age old problem of "just because you can do something doesn't mean you should." It's my belief that we can find a middle ground that will allow us to rid ourselves of debilitating genetic conditions without sacrificing diversity and delight in our differences. 
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An interesting take on why the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative is choosing to use a for-profit company structure for their charitable giving rather than a non-profit.
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There comes a time in all our lives where we must make a choice to be brave, or to give in to fear. Here's a wonderful example of a man who made the tough choice, and changed lives in the process.
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Can a plan of atonement help the United States face our history of slavery the same way it helped Germany face the Holocaust? I tend to believe "yes," because telling the truth about what's happened in our past is the first step toward crafting a better future based on authenticity.

H/T Brother Eric
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From the "furiously happy" files: Coats tied to lampposts for the homeless to take and use now that winter is truly upon us.

H/T Brother Vince
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I love this so much I wish I'd written it myownself. The author expresses exactly how I feel about the place Moe holds in my heart, and in my life. I will NEVER stop talking about my Moe-Moe, as long as I live.

H/T Sister Aileen

Identifying the key word

Saturday, December 5, 2015
It's been a tough week here in the United States. In addition to all the typical election buffoonery, we've had two shooting sprees, one at a Planned Parenthood Clinic here in Colorado, and another at a Human Services organization in San Bernardino, California. The death toll stands at seventeen, three in Colorado Springs and fourteen in San Bernardino.

I think it's fair to say that all the shooters can be characterized, by definition, as "bat crap crazy." No one of sound intellectual and emotional mind goes around spraying bullets like a fire-hose, killing people indiscriminately. Nutbars, the lot of them.

But as usual, partisan politics rules the day, as people make excuses, speculate wildly, and generally crap their pants in an orgy of political sound bites and rhetoric.

Robert Lewis Dear, the Colorado Springs nutbar, was an evangelical Christian. He expressed admiration for the Army of God, an anti-abortion Christian terrorist organization, and while no evidence has been discovered to tie him directly to the organization, I think it's safe to say he is a Christian Terrorist. 

Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik, the San Bernardino nutbars, were Muslim. The FBI has discovered correspondence that at the very least, they had sympathetic attitudes toward ISIS, although no evidence has been discovered to tie them directly to the organization. I think it's safe to say they were Muslim Terrorists. 

This is what we know about the nutbars, aside from the fact that their families are all horrified beyond belief at what has transpired.


And what we know about the partisans is that both sides of the aisle have abandoned rational thought, claiming that these two events prove their points, prove that it's the Muslims/Christians/immigrants/white gun lovers who are the real threat, and IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT.

And both sides are missing the goddamn point.

The key word in all this is not "Muslim" or "Christian." It's terrorist. From the Mirriam-Webster definition of terrorism:
 : the use of violent acts to frighten the people in an area as a way of trying to achieve a political goal
Whether the political goal is the spread of the Caliphate or having Planned Parenthood close its doors, the methodology is the same. To frighten people as a way of trying to achieve a political goal, apparently with a body count as an added nutbar bonus.

The key word is terrorist. And while we're all pointing the fingers at each other, trying to lay the blame at the door of the President, of the NRA, of the Christians, of the Muslims, of the liberals, of the conservatives, nothing is being done to address the issue in any kind of a meaningful way. We're like recalcitrant children, pointing the finger, name-calling, and generally running around naked with our hair on fire. What we're not doing is coming up with a plan to address the very real danger of the extremists among us, those who would rather watch the world burn than not get their way.

I'm sick of it. At this point, I'm beyond the partisan rhetoric, and have no desire to argue with those who can't understand that this is a complex issue, with myriad facets. The two extreme positions, arming every goddamn person in the country or confiscating all the weapons in the country are non-starters. Thinking people know this. Thinking people understand that in spite of the rhetoric, only a small minority would suggest such a plan in any event. Thinking people understand that compromise, pragmatism, and above all, effectiveness should be the guiding principles here.

And if you're not a thinking person, then I wish you'd just shut the fuck up. You're not helping. And as Mr. Rogers taught us, we need to look for the helpers in these troubled times. If you're not going to help, then get the Hell out of the way.

Link Me Up, Scotty - People Rock, People Suck Edition

Friday, December 4, 2015
Smart Man and fellow UCFer David on the suddenness of change in society, and how, for all our technological might, you can't really fight the climate. This is so good I wish I'd written it, and I'm delighted to know someone who did.
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Perelli announced their new 2016 calendar, and took the media by storm by featuring women of accomplishment and substance instead of their traditional big-boobed, skinny models. Advertising genius? You bet. Effective technique to show a little respect in spite of the gimmick? Indeed.

H/T The Incomparable Anne™
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Elizabeth Taylor ran an underground drug ring to provide experimental pharmaceuticals to AIDS patients. Her reputation as a hottie and sometime crazy woman should not overshadow her legacy of advocacy on behalf of AIDS patients. Go, Liz.

H/T Debbie the Librarian
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A U.S. Marine is found guilty in a Philippines court of killing a transgender woman, thus embarrassing the U.S. Armed Forces in the second-worst way possible. There's a lot to admire about the Devil Dogs, but their forward thinking, la-dee-da attitude about non-cis sexual identity isn't one of them. In fact, the organization as a whole is homophobic mess.

H/T Brother Seth
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Immigration revitalizes stagnant economies and cities. The fact that they're refugees is just a big ole "let's do the right thing" bonus.
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An essay on mass shootings and what we can - and can't - do about them. This is from 2014, but it still has relevance.
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Video of my Heart: Dave Grohl and THE MUPPETS.


It's the end of the world as we know it

Thursday, December 3, 2015
Another day, another mass shooting. This time it's a human services organization, a group that provided services to the disabled. Because nothing says "ammosexual nutjob" like shooting up an organization dedicated to helping the least among us, I guess.

But that's not why I think it's the end of the world. This is the 351st mass shooting this year, putting the U.S. on par for having more than one each day. It's part of our life now, part of our culture, and I think we can all agree that there will be no legislation or fundamental change that will prevent this type of thing from happening again tomorrow. We just don't have the political will to fix what's broken, and in fact, we can't even agree on what that is, which makes taking action more than a little difficult.

No, what's driven me to my keyboard was a brief exchange I had on Facebook with the friend of a friend on the shooting in San Bernardino. This individual truly believes that people who choose not to purchase guns are "neutering" themselves and have only themselves to blame if some nutjob chooses to kill them with a firearm. No, I'm not making that up. No, I won't mention who it is or identify the mutual friend. Yes, I have blocked this person, because...damn.

To me, this idea that the victims of violence are to blame because they choose not to go armed in what is purportedly a civilized society is more indicative of lawlessness and a slow slide into barbarism than the nutbars who are spraying bullets like a fire-hose. One of the definitions of a civilized society is that violence becomes the privilege of the state, not armed vigilantes roaming the streets with some sort of cockamamie "good guy with a gun" complex. The thought that each of us is responsible for our own personal safety, with no recourse or protection from the state...this idea frightens me deeply. It's a precursor to the world of Mad Max, and has implications far beyond the fact that the United States can't/won't address the problem of mass violence in our society. Where's the line in the sand? At what point does unacceptable behavior legitimize taking personal action versus allowing the authorities to handle it? Do I get to run my neighbor down because they don't shovel their sidewalk and they drive poorly? Do we now start to turn our house into fortress because we can't trust law enforcement to maintain the rule of law?

I've always despised victim-blaming, but this...this is something different, and something far more sinister.

Angels and ministers of grace, defend us.

Link Me Up, Scotty - Elders and Giving Edition

Monday, November 30, 2015
Signs that you might be in a manipulative relationship. And not just for romantic relationships, either.

H/T Rivi
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If I ever decide to jump the fence, Rachael Acks would be one of my first stops, and here's one of the reasons why.
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There's a group of nuns who pose as prostitutes in order to infiltrate brothels and rescue girls who are victims of human and sexual trafficking. How awesome are these ladies?
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Brother Seth on Thanksgiving and war.
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End of life decisions and discussions about how what senior family members want if they can no longer live independently are incredibly important. While I'm extremely grateful for both our sake's that my Hot Mom is still able to live on her own with minimal assistance, the time may come when that's no longer the case. And I want her to have the care and assistance that makes the end of her life dignified, hopeful, and loving.
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Mistakes are not all created equal, and they're often a learning experience that enhances our skills and our lives. 
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A Florida mom opened her home on Thanksgiving to her son and 12 of his fellow Marines who couldn't make it home for the holidays.  Semper Fi, Mom.

H/T Judi
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Elders often don't get enough to eat, or the nutrients they need to stay strong and healthy. Meals on Wheels and other nutrition programs supported by the Older Americans Act are the bomb-diggity.
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Myanmar is the most generous nation in the world, followed by the United States. I really like the criteria used in this case: the poll asked participants, "in the last month, have you donated money to a charity; volunteered time to an organization; helped a stranger or someone you didn't know who needed help?" 

I've been sadly disappointed in we Americans lately, so was happy to read this news. Note to self: I need to make more of an effort to help strangers more often.

Link Me Up, Scotty - Politics and Thanksgiving Edition

Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Doctors, soldiers, and other contributing members of society are tweeting their ID cards to that waste of human space Donald Trump, asking him where HIS "special ID" is. Since he's not a contributing member of society, he may have one from "Douchcanoe, Inc.," but I doubt it.
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Kindness and generosity wins the day (and the year, an the decade).
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Hiring vets isn't just good PR, it's smart. Glad to see Colorado companies realize this, and are working to hire more.

H/T Judi
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10 teachers reveal the most ridiculous things parents have ever said to them. My personal fave:
One of my 5th graders had been flashing gang signs, drawing gang symbols, an bragging about dealing hard drugs. I showed his mom one of his many drawing of gang symbols. She was pissed. She asked me if she could see the drawing and a pencil. Upon giving these to her, she began editing. She said, "the f*cker didn't even draw it right."
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Paging John Adams...How about some facts about Syrian refugees and the United States? Because you sure as fuck are not going to get any of those from the Republican candidate for President. 
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Gratitude is good for the heart, the head, and the health.
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The always erudite Ta-Nehisi Coates on hope and art. 
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On de-escalation and why it's second nature to women. This type of social norm makes me very, very tired, even though I know I do it ALL THE TIME.
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Scalzi lists the Republican candidates in order of preference. I don't know that I would place my "let's all emigrate to Europe" mark in the same place he would, but amusing nonetheless.
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Video of my heart: Franchesca Ramsey takes on Thanksgiving myths with a real dose of history.

On Refugees, Risk, and the Value of Courage

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

In the beginning, there was death, and also facts

Everyone's talking about it - the press, the Presidential candidates, the President, the Governors. Every other post on social media relates to it, with people coming down on both sides of the issue, usually, predictably, along party lines. Some people want to ensure the Syrian refugees are welcomed in the West, and are helped to build a new life. Some people want to keep them out, on the grounds that they may be dangerous.

When the terrorist attacks occurred in Paris and Daesh took responsibility, I decided I needed to know more about this group. Who they were, what they wanted, their philosophy. I quickly expanded my search to include facts about terrorism in America, what the risks are, where the danger lay, and the historical context of refugees in America. It's a complicated subject, and I won't try and regurgitate what I've read. Anyone with an open mind and in Internet connection will easily find the same material I did, and I'm far from an expert on these topics. But I will state some facts that have informed my opinion on this topic.
  1. ISIS (Daesh) is an apocalyptic cult. It is based in 7th Century Islamic law, and its adherents are attempting to bring on the end-times by, among other things, establishing a caliphate in Syria.
  2. Daesh has very definite ideas about who is an apostate when it comes to their medieval belief system. Number one on their list of better-off-deads is people like me, followed closely by moderate Muslims who prefer to live in the 21st Century instead of the 7th. Christians are last on their list, provided said Christians pay a tax called jizya and acknowledge Sharia.
  3. Approximately 23.2% of people in the world identify as Muslim - roughly 1.6 billion people. Daesh's total fighting force is estimated at 20,000 fighters, or approximately .0000125% of the Muslim population.
  4. Many of the refugees from Syria who are seeking refuge here and in Europe are fleeing Daesh. The Caliphate has taken over their neighborhoods, and rather than being hung, or crucified, or being sold into slavery, they ran.
  5. So far, none of the perpetrators of the terrorist attacks in Paris have been identified as refugees. They've all been identified as European nationals.
  6. Since 9/11, nearly twice as many people in the United States have been killed by white supremacists, antigovernment fanatics and other non-Muslim extremists than by radical Muslims.
  7. Drawing a direct line between the United States' military endeavors in the Middle East and the rise of Daesh is a completely supportable thesis.
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My thoughts on the topic of Daesh and the plight of the Syrian refugees can be divided into three areas: Geopolitics, risk, and values.

Geopolitics

When I observe the world stage, and the continuing conflicts between radical Muslims and the West, I can come to only one conclusion: What we're doing isn't working. Bombing the hell out of Afghanistan, toppling Saddam Hussein, leaving without a plan or providing nation building - all of these things have made the situation worse, not better. It's led to minor and major terrorist attacks, the fraying of our alliances, and the continued deterioration of our nation's reputation on the world stage. Our strategy didn't work, and calling for "more of the same" seems the height of stupidity.

I'm not going to try and pretend that I'm in any way qualified to devise a strategic vision for dealing with the Middle East in all its complexities. Smarter people than me have failed for decades, and I don't have the education or the experience to even take a stab at it. But I do believe that any such strategy needs to be driven by a common goal that we can share with the regional stakeholders, and guided not by American arrogance in assuming our way is the only way, but by compassion.

By agreeing to help with the Syrian refugee crisis, Americans are telling moderate Muslims that we stand beside them in their struggle against Daesh. We're saying that we consider Daesh our common enemy, not a "Muslim problem." We're welcoming moderate Muslims into our community, a community built on civilized, egalitarian behavior, and offering them the protection of the greatest country in the world. To deny them refuge because they're Muslim, or only to allow those who pass a religious litmus test is profoundly bigoted, and reinforces the worst stereotypes about America.


Risk

The argument I keep hearing about opening our borders to the Syrian refugees is that the Boston Marathon bombings were carried out by refugees, so therefore we must ban all refugees in order to protect our citizens.

I do not deny that the cretins responsible for the Boston Marathon terrorist attack were Chechen immigrants. Their parents were granted asylum in this country, and that's why they lived here. But they weren't refugees, and they were not connected with any specific terrorist organization. I don't think you can draw a direct line between their immigration status and their decision to do evil.

I don't think Americans have a very good understanding of risk. For example, drowning causes approximately 3,500 deaths in the United States each year. Unintentional deaths from shooting causes approximately 600 deaths in the United States each year. And yet, people are much more cavalier about water safety than they are gun safety, especially as it relates to their children.

Daily, we drive our kids around in automobiles, even though 1 of every 4 unintentional injury deaths among children younger than 13 is caused by auto accidents. And yet, we accept this risk without thought, while collectively losing our shit over the possibility that a Daesh fighter might sneak in with the Syrian refugees.

I am in no way suggesting that the risk is "zero," nor do I think intelligence and law enforcement organizations should be lackadaisical in their approach to these issues. Due diligence is required when accepting any refugee population into our boarders. But a realistic evaluation of the risk/reward is required, and decisions should be made based on facts, not logical fallacies and emotion. And the fact of the matter is that I have more to fear from the white, Christian, secessionist whackadoos than I do from any moderate Muslim refugee.


Values

I served this country in uniform for 17 years. I don't think that service gives me more moral authority to speak to the values of the United States, but it did give me an impetus to analyze why I thought America was worth that service, and why I promised to give that last, final measure if required.

I served because I believe in America. I believe we're a nation of people who can accomplish anything. I believe we're a nation that values helping others, that values protecting the weak and opposing the oppressor. I believe we're a nation who wants to be seen by the world as a moral leader, who wants to retain our position as a Superpower and shape the world to our liking. And I believe we're a generous people.

So when I see that a growing number of states are "refusing" to take in Syrian refugees, I am deeply, profoundly ashamed. When I see that my fellow Coloradans are signing petitions to encourage Governor Hickenlooper to reverse his position on taking in the people who are fleeing Daesh, I am horribly embarrassed for them, and I judge their courage and compassion wanting.

We are Americans. How can we refuse these people in their hour of greatest need, when they are fleeing civilization's enemy, an enemy we helped create? Will we ask our all-volunteer Armed Forces to go into harm's way once again, to defeat our enemy on their own ground, while we ourselves cower in our corners, afraid to help those who have suffered the most at the hands of this scourge?

Will we learn nothing from history, where we refused entry to our nation to millions of Jews who were then exterminated by madmen? Will we instead intern Muslims, as we did Japanese-Americans, to our everlasting shame?

These people, the ones who want to close our doors in the face of the wanting, they're afraid, and I understand their fear. They see what happened in Paris, in Boston, and they're afraid. They see their own loved ones in the faces of the dead and injured, and they want protection. For them, forsaking our values in the name of safety is the right course.

And yet, such forsaking is exactly what Daesh wants from us. They want to sow discord among civilized nations, and turn us one against the other. They want us to turn away from our fellows, and invade their territory, thus hastening the end times.

We are Americans. We have a history of courage, and conviction. We see ourselves as the land of the free and the home of the brave. We must embrace our courage now, and stand up to the bullies who would have their own way on pain of death. We must welcome those who have fled from our enemy, and provide succor, and protect them with our might. We must accept the risk of doing the right thing, as a nation, instead of allowing our Armed Forces to always act as our proxy in this regard. We must not give in to fear. Courage is the act of doing what's right, in the face of fear.

I am afraid. But I will muster my courage, and I will welcome my Syrian neighbors. Because I am American.

Link Me Up, Scotty - Feminism and Diplomacy Edition

The 32 types of anti-feminists. It's a little distressing how many of these people I've had contact with. Ugh.
_________

An interesting article on our relationship with pumpkins and squash.
_________

Turns out that all of the ringleaders of the Paris attacks that have been identified are...European nationals, and not refugees. SHOCKING.
_________

A tutorial on how terrorism actually works, and how letting fear drive our decisions is making the Caliphe cream his jeans.
_________

I found this Zen Pencils original work strangely compelling.
_________

Video of my Heart: I have never been prouder to be represented on the world stage by our President, and it brought home to me just how critical the 2016 Presidential elections really are. Can you imagine if the rhetoric being spewed by Trump or Carson was coming from the leader of our nation rather than from the (not so) fringe?


Llink Me Up, Scotty - Atrocity Edition

Sunday, November 15, 2015
Friend and fellow UCFer David with some wise words on the most recent incident of terror.
_________

Muslims around the world condemn ISIS and the Paris attacks, with an assist from Pope Francis.
_________

In light of recent events, this article from The Atlantic on the Islamic State and what they want is timely reading. It's long, but fascinating.
_________

There is a well-supported thesis that one can draw a direct line from the U.S.' military misadventures in the Middle East and ISIS. I believe this thesis should be part of any conversation on our future strategies, not so that we can engage in a shit-flinging monkey fest, but so that we might look at the situation with clarity and responsibility.
__________

An essay on the dangers (and mental sloppiness) of stereotypes and knee-jerk reactions.
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Link Me Up, Scotty

Saturday, November 14, 2015
Virginia becomes the first state in the Union to eliminate homelessness in its veteran population. Go, Virginia. You make me proud.
_________

The SCOTUS has accepted an abortion case out of Texas, and it promises to be the latest in a continuing battle to overturn Roe v Wade. Those that oppose abortion have been using regulatory tactics for years to limit the availability of abortion, and the law being challenged here is one such instance. To quote the Notorious RBG:
The decision whether or not to bear a child is central to a woman's life, to her well-being and dignity. When the government controls that decision for her, she is being treated as less than a full adult human responsible for her own choices.
Just so.
_________

Like all civilized human beings, I'm saddened and angry about the attacks in Paris. But this story makes me furiously happy. Parisians sing La Marseillaise as they calmly evacuate their stadium. 

Long time reader Beatrice lives in Paris, and I hope today finds her safe. Check in when you can, friend.
_________

Let's not forget that Muslim radicals kill more fellow Muslims than they do Westerners. It's everyone's problem, not simply a matter of "Muslims vs the West."
_________

Video of my Heart: Local a Capella group Face singing The Sound of Silence/Hey You. 

H/T Judi


Link Me Up, Scotty - Mental Health Edition

Wednesday, November 11, 2015
A new private hospital network is going to start helping the VA with mental health services for veterans. It's about fucking time.
__________

More details on Colorado's single payer health bill, coming to a ballot near me in 2016.

H/T Brother Seth
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Something to think about as the silly season approaches. Get up and help someone, indeed.
__________

Senator Clare McCaskill did a tongue-in-cheek bit on Colbert about how men are cordially invited to shut the hell up on certain topics. Naturally, men came out of the wood work to ensure the point was made.

H/T Debbie the Librarian
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Because we really didn't need any more reasons to think Michelle Bachmann is a socially retarded numb-skull: She ended her trip to Israel by telling the Jews to convert to Christianity. 

H/T Brother Paul
__________

Police officer in Oklahoma is accused of raping 13 women, is currently on trial, and apparently no one cares. I'm sure the fact that the victims were all black women probably has nothing to do with that. Nah.

H/T Tempest
__________

Video of my Heart: Chanticleer performs Freddy Mercury's Somebody to Love. 

 

Link Me Up, Scotty - Diversity, Faith and Morality Edition

Monday, November 9, 2015
A black software engineer decided to leave his plum job at Twitter because of their abysmal diversity record. Many of the points made by Miley could be expanded to include women in engineering and technology, so I feel the man's pain. Yes, I am the only woman on my technical team...for the last seven years. Why do you ask?
__________

In the year 1959, a father gives his gay son the best advice in the world - "Don't sneak."

H/T Brother Juan
__________

There's a Lutheran pastor here in Denver who appears to be my kind of gal. If I wasn't an Atheist, I mean.

H/T Brother Juan
__________

An interesting study on how children raised in religious households tend to be more selfish than children raised in secular households. While I have a tendency to believe that children raised by assholes tend to be more assholish than their more generous counterparts, this does bring up an interesting point. Is religion really necessary to provide moral instruction? I come down unequivocally on the "no" side.
__________

Sex ed for the 21st century.  Coming back around to "Don't sneak."

__________

Our furry friends to the rescue, again. I heart service dogs.

H/T Cindy
__________

Two brothers are able to finish the NY Marathon due to the kindness of strangers. See, people CAN be awesome!

H/T Brother Vince
__________

Video of my Heart: College Humor takes on the "boys will be boys" rape culture that leads to one in five college women being sexually assaulted before graduation.

O Canada!

Friday, November 6, 2015
I'm sure you're all aware that Canada swore in their new PM this week, a gentleman by the name of Justin Trudeau. Prime Minister Trudeau made the astonishing decision to have a gender balanced cabinet - 15 men, and 15 women. And there's religious, racial, and ability diversity stuck in there, also - just ALL KINDS of people, working together, willy-nilly like they're all HUMAN or something.

So of COURSE the media had to ask him about his decision to embrace diversity and why it was important. His response was utterly appropriate: "Because it's 2015."

BECAUSE IT'S 2015, BITCHES, AND THIS IS WHAT A NON-DISCRIMINATORY CABINET LOOKS LIKE. SUCK IT.

There are two things that I find both depressing and amusing about this non-story. The first thing is that it's a story at all. Seriously - the guy made an effort to have a diverse cabinet, and include people of all backgrounds. Why is this so damn news-worthy? It's not like Canada is a homogeneous society, with no immigrants, no original peoples. I find it mildly distressing that it's such a big fucking deal.

And then there's the reaction of the Old White Dude Club™.

PM Trudeau's cabinet consists of highly qualified humans. There are Rhodes Scholars. Astronauts. Professional politicians. Economists. Business owners. Attorneys. Veterans. Scientists. Engineers. These people are impressive. And yet, the OWDC™ have taken to the Internets, crying foul and lamenting on how the WIMMINS TOOK OUR CABINET POSTS.

I swear, the way these people are going on (remember, kids - don't read the comments!) you'd think PM Trudeau was randomly picking people up off the street to fill these cabinet posts, not seeking qualified candidates while paying respectful attention to diversity. "Oh, you're a barista working your way through college? C'mon and be my cabinet member for workforce development and labor! You're TOTALLY just as qualified as MaryAnn Mihychuk, a geoscientist and founder of Women in Mining! Because you both have vaginas, and really, that's all that matters!"


I guess the insult to the injury here is that of the 15 cabinet posts occupied by men, only 10 are filled with people who could conceivably gain entrance into the OWDC™. The other five either have suspiciously dark skin or are disabled in some fashion. Only a 33% representation. OH THE HORROR.

Watching people give up their unearned privilege is a truly head shaking experience. They so often don't see the truth of their privilege, and watching them twist themselves in knots trying to justify it is amusing. But it's often uncomfortable, too, in a "I can't bear to watch this loser hit on that gorgeous woman anymore" kind of way.

Seriously, can't you at least wait for the appointees to screw up in some way, thus proving their unsuitability before you cry foul? Of course you can't. What am I thinking.

Link Me Up, Scotty - Grammar and Critical Thinking Edition

Thursday, November 5, 2015
Nothing makes my teeth hurt like people just making up words willy-nilly in an effort to appear smarter than they really are. Which is why I'm down with the new business-speak watch-word: Shut Up.

H/T Ginger, an actual architect.
_________

The National Geographic Photography Contest, Part II.
_________

Photographs from the World Indigenous Games.
_________

Education does not exist to persecute you. There are matters of fact, objective matters, and matters of opinion, subjective matters. When we confuse the two, we look even more ignorant that we did when we made a false claim (or use made-up words). The money quote: 
The problem comes from people whose opinions are actually misconceptions. If you think vaccines cause autism you are expressing something factually wrong, not an opinion. The fact that you may still believe that vaccines cause autism does not move your misconception into the realm of valid opinion. Nor does the fact that many other share this opinion give it any more validity…
You can be wrong or ignorant. It will happen. Reality does not care about your feelings. Education does not exist to persecute you. The misinformed are not an ethnic minority being oppressed. What’s that? Planned Parenthood is chopping up dead babies and selling them for phat cash? No, that’s not what actually happened. No, it’s not your opinion. You’re just wrong.
H/T Brother Vince
_________

From the What the fuck is wrong with people files: Dude rapes a young girl hundreds of times over the course of years starting when she was a toddler, admits his crimes, gets sentenced to 50 years in prison, and people are STICKING UP FOR THIS SHITBAG AND BLAMING THE VICTIM. Fuck me.

H/T Tempest
_________

The root cause of Robin Williams' suicide was not depression, but a form of dementia called "Lewy Body Dementia LBD." It's easy to assume that everyone who chooses to end their life is a victim of depression, but the truth is often far more complex, and there's so many variables it's tough to pin down.
_________

Video of my heart: The USNA Midshipmen obviously don't have enough to do.


Link Me Up, Scotty - Undergarments and Race Edition

Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Because giving back matters. It really, really matters.
________

Why black people don't like to discuss race with white people. I try to be honest with myself about my own privilege and the fact that I live in an inherently racist society, but I still find myself getting defensive about it. It's hard not to, but it behooves us all to work on this.

H/T Tempest
________

Why are Sports Bras so utterly dreadful? Good question, and the answer is surprisingly complex.
________

A plan to prevent every single suicide. Every single one.

H/T Steve
________

Anonymous is making good on its promise to out alleged members of the KKK, and their hit list includes four Republican Senators. Shocked I am.
________

President Jimmy Carter is hanging in there. I have tremendous respect for President Carter, and hope he continues to feel reasonably strong and fit. But the man's 91 years old, so I think those of us who admire the man should probably brace ourselves.
________

A woman broke up a Planned Parenthood protest by holding up a sign thanking PP for treating her for her chronic yeast infections and chanting "yeast infections!!" at the top of her voice. Mary Numair is my new same-sex girlfriend.

H/T Brother Juan
________

I shuddered when I discovered that Rupert Murdoch had acquired National Geographic. And so it begins.

H/T Brother Juan

________

Want to know why voting at the local level matters? This is why. I live in Douglas County, and attended public school in Jefferson County. And I'm pleased as punch that both these counties told their incumbent school boards to get lost.
________

Signs that someone might be considering suicide. And why it's dreadfully important to just ask if you suspect someone has suicidal thoughts.
________


Suddenly Dying

Tuesday, November 3, 2015
I have a friend. We met in 1998 in P'ohang, Korea, while on deployment with Commander, Naval Forces Korea. We've kept in touch over the last 17 years, and while we weren't close, he was the last of my shipmates still on active duty and I always thought of him and his family fondly. In fact, we spoke on the phone just two weeks ago.


And then last week, a news article reported that he "died suddenly in his home." I subsequently learned that he was the victim of suicide.

I don't know any of the details of what led my friend to take his life. I don't know if he was sick, or mentally ill, or if there was some other outside influence that acted as a precipitating event. But what I do know is that he didn't die suddenly. 

After Moe died, I slowly came to realize that in most cases, people don't "die suddenly" of suicide. They die slowly, by inches, every day losing a  little more hope, a little more will, until suddenly they can't hold on anymore and see only one remaining option. Oftentimes, their family and friends have no idea about this slow death, and are powerless to stop it.

I don't know if my friend's family knew how he was struggling. I don't know if he was under a doctor's care, or if his decision blindsided them the way Moe's death blindsided us.

What I do know, what I know past bearing, is how shell-shocked they must be, how disbelieving. I know how they are alternating between wanting to crawl out of their own skins in an effort to make it not so, and numb, terrifying acceptance. I know the crushing burden of their grief, and the self-blame, horror, and exhaustion of their acceptance as they attend today's memorial service. And my heart breaks for them, and for me, all over again.

Fair winds and following seas, shipmate. I'll miss you.

Link Me Up, Scotty - Bad Behavior Edition

Wednesday, October 28, 2015
I've long thought Hobby Lobby was a wart on the ass of the United States. Now here's additional proof that their hypocrisy really has no limits. Camel, meet eye of needle.

H/T Sister NeuronDoc
_________

Yes, yes, a thousand times "yes." I came to my Atheism in mid-life, and it took a while for me to come to terms with the agnostic portion of my disbelief. While I still have a huge stick up my ass when it comes to people's faith butting up against my empirical reality (*cough*young earth creationism*cough*), for the most part I don't really care much about what you believe. As long as your faith doesn't lead to bigotry or other forms of asshattery, we're all good.
_________

A woman stabs her boyfriend to death because he threw her cat against a wall in a fit of anger. While I'm not condoning the murder of another human being, I find I'm oddly sympathetic to this women's feelings. Don't mess with Miss Jackson Pi.

H/T Tempest
_________

The Justice Department is looking to prosecute the plutocrats who tanked the economy in 2008. Whatevs - I'll believe it when I see it.

H/T Paul
_________

Colorado will have single payer health care on the ballot in 2016. I'm a fan of single payer healthcare as a general principle, although I haven't yet done the research on this specific proposal. However, Colorado is a purple state at best, and such rampant socialism will probably be a non-starter here.
_________

Video of my Heart: British journalist Jonathon Pie has an outtake on the state of British Journalism and the "news."


Link Me Up, Scotty - Mind Yer Bidness Edition

Monday, October 26, 2015
Why is it so fucking hard for people to just mind their own damn business and quit trying to force their religious beliefs into the public sphere? Florida joins the ranks of states attempting to pass one of those ridiculous "religious liberty" laws. Angels and Ministers of Grace, defend us.
________

Climate change and hurricane strength. It's a complex system with many variables, but the evidence for a connection is very, very strong.
________

Apparently cheese is as addictive as drugs. I knew it!
________

Being the President of the United States isn't like being a CEO. And I'm sick to death of people assuming it is.
________

I love this idea, and not just because I come from a family with a tradition of military service. It's a question of honor, damnit - we should take care of our own.

H/T Brother Seth
_________

Mechanics recreate Renaissance paintings for photographer. I really, really, like these.

H/T Debbie the Librarian
_________

I'm against the death penalty for a number of reasons, and here's one more: It's an administrative nightmare, and the states that allow it have no comprehensive plan to resolve their issues.
_________

Officials from Texas raid Planned Parenthood and demand the home addresses and salary information of their employees because reasons? Texas, your obsession with the uterus is legendary. And I don't mean that in a good way.
_________

In case you thought we lived in a "post-racial world."

H/T Tempest
_________

Video of my heart: Two of my favorite musical groups - The Piano Guys and The Hollens Family singing What Are Words. 

 

Conversations with Karma - Trey Gowdy Edition

Saturday, October 24, 2015
* ring, ring *

Trey Gowdy's Office: Hello, Trey  Gowdy's office, how can I help you?

Karma: Hello, I'd like to speak to the Representative, please. Hehe.

TGO: May I say who's calling?

K: Karma.

TGO: Karma who?

K: Why does everyone say that? Just tell him it's "Karma Chameleon" calling.

TGO: Isn't that a Culture Club song?

K: Just get him.

Trey Gowdy: Hello? What is this, some king of joke?

K: No joke, Congressman. This is Karma.

TG: I thought this was Boy George.

K: No, that was a joke. This is Karma. The Eastern idea that you will receive your punishment or reward for your deeds. You know...what comes around goes around, people get what they deserve? Karma.

TG: I don't like that sound of that.

K: Wise of you. I'm actually doing a favor for my friend Schadenfreude.

TG: What do you want?

K: Well, you know how you've been using the tragic death of the Benghazi Embassy staff as a partisan lever to try and bring down Hillary Clinton in her bid for the U.S. Presidency?

TG: I have no idea what you're talking about.

K: Of course you don't. Well, guess what, Trey Gowdy? Turns out those nasty liberals have discovered that you (gasp!) use your own e:mail server for your treygowdy.com domain name. Hehe.

TG: So what? It's for personal use - my re-election, and personal e:mail.

K: Are you sure? Because really, at this point the Democrats have no reason to take your word for it.

TG: What do you mean?

K: I mean, you raging hypocrite, that even if your e:mail server is pure as the driven snow, that the Democrats will most certainly try and prove you used it for Congressional business. Which is why I'm making this little visit as a personal favor to my colleague Schadenfreude.

TG: But my server doesn't have anything to do with Hillary's! And she DID use hers for her State e:mails!

K: Yes, I know, and reset assured I'll be paying her a little visit in my own right over that debacle. But that's not really the point, is it? What comes around, goes around. You started a witch hunt, and now the torches and pitchforks are coming for you. I love my work.

TG: I need to call my attorney.

K: Good move.

* click *

Conversations with Karma - Martin Shkreli Edition

Friday, October 23, 2015
* ring, ring *

Martin Shkreli: Hello, Turing Pharmaceurticals, Martin here.

Karma: Hello, Martin. This is Karma.

MS: Karma? Karma who?

K: Karma. The Eastern idea that you will receive your punishment or reward for your deeds. You know...what comes around goes around, people get what they deserve? Karma.

MS: Oh, Karma! Yes, I'm familiar with that. I have excellent Karma. Otherwise I wouldn't be so darn rich!

K: I'm afraid it doesn't work like that. "Through the eye of a needle" and all that.

MS: Whatevs. I'm a busy dude - what do you want?

K: Well, remember back in August when you decided to acquire a drug called Daraprim® that's used to treat opportunistic, parasitic infections with people with compromised immune systems?

MS: Yeah! That was great. I raised the price from $13.50 a pill to $750 a pill. I didn't have a single R&D dollar invested in that shit, but I have to, you know, "make sound business decisions." I've decided to "invest" the profits from that little gem into a PRIVATE ISLAND. Hows' THAT for stimulating the local economy!

K: Hm, yes. I believe the quote was, "This isn’t the greedy drug company trying to gouge patients, it is us trying to stay in business. This is still one of the smallest pharmaceutical products in the world. It really doesn’t make sense to get any criticism for this.”

MS: And I was RIGHT. Those people whining about the price increase just don't know how to manage a business. Not like ME.

K: Except when you don't. 
MS: What is that supposed to mean?

K: Well, it turns out that a company called Imprimis Pharmaceuticals has decided to make available a customizable compounded formulation of pyrimethamine and leucovorin for physicians to consider prescribing for their patients as a low cost alternative to Daraprim®. The drug you bought. 

MS: So?

K: So, they're charging less than a dollar a pill. 

MS: WHAT? They can't do that!

K: They can. And they did. Because their CEO is an effin genius who understands that taking advantage of other company's greed for their own PR benefit is a sound business practice. 

MS: I'll sue!

K: Yeah, good luck with that. Everyone already thinks you're the biggest douche in the free world. Go ahead and sue a company for undercutting your business plan by manufacturing a generic version of your drug and see what that gets you. 

MS: This is unacceptable! And I'm not a douche!

K: Actually, you are. Why don't you console yourself by diving into a pile of your money a la Scrooge McDuck?

MS: You have no respect. I'm calling my attorney. 

K: You do that. I have to leave anyway - I have an appointment with that lying sack of shit Bibi Netanyahu. Can you believe he tried to blame the Holocaust on the Palestinians, and then got corrected by the Germans? I couldn't have set that up better myself. 

* click * 

Link Me Up, Scotty - Sweetums Edition

Thursday, October 22, 2015
I've been following Jack Bogle for a number of years, and following his investment advice, as well. I have an investment adviser over at Fidelity (an entitlement from my 401K), and it drives her nuts that I insist on Index Funds and none of those fancy-shmancy financial instruments with the high fees. Get off my lawn, investment advisers, I have JACK BOGLE on my side!
_________

From the Bizarro-World files: Jewish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims that a Muslim Cleric named Haj Amin al-Husseini was responsible for Hitler's decision to annihilate the Jews, and had to be corrected by the Germans. While history shows that al-Husseini was in fact a violent anti-Semite, I never, ever, thought I'd see the day when a Jewish leader would try to revise Holocaust history to demonize their enemy and feed their anti-Islam bigotry. Is nothing sacred?

P.S. Kudos to the Germans, who will not tolerate any revision of this part of their history, even to their benefit. 
_________

Engineering for the ages. Humans, we amaze me.

H/T Judi
_________

I really want to try one of these "Escape Room" outings. I just need to make sure I bring a bunch of really smart people with me. Like pretty much any of my friends.
_________

You totally need to watch this. Right now.
_________

Being a 15 year old girl is hard.These young women explain why.
_________

Apparently Republicans lie more than Democrats. I find this amusing, because really - saying that Republicans lie "more" than Democrats is like saying that Jeffrey Dahmer was "worse" than Ted Bundy because he ate his victims.
_________

When it comes to death by firearms, suicide, not homicide, claims more victims. So instead of being douchey to each other about this indisputable fact, suicide prevention professionals and gun enthusiasts here in Colorado have teamed up to try and reduce this horrifying statistic.
_________

Video of my Heart: The Swedish Chef, rapping. I love the "look" on Sweetums' face at the beginning.


My grief is a seditious little terrorist

Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Sometimes I think my grief is a seditious little terrorist. I'll be going along, minding my own business, taking care of my physical and emotional health, and it will come up behind me like a guerrilla and cold-cock me, right in the heart.

The latest incident happened on Monday night, while I was sleeping. I had a dream where Moe did in fact die, but her brother was able to bring her back several years after her death. Imagine my joy in seeing my baby girl again, knowing that this time, I would be able to help her, I would be able to save her.

And imagine my heartbreak when I woke up and realized this will never be the case. She's gone, and nothing I or anyone else can do will ever bring her back, will ever help her, will ever save her.

I spent most of today feeling pretty shitty.

It's these types of incidents that crush me. I've learned to bear the day-to-day grief of not having Moe in my life, and knowing that I'll always have this hole in my heart. It still sucks, but most days I've learned to live with it. But every once in a while, grief attacks me from behind, and lays me low, with  no warning and no recourse. It's like being stabbed in the heart all over again, and it takes my breath away.

I don't think these incidents are indicative of my depression, or occur because I've stopped taking medication for it. I think they're part of my normal grief process, since they occurred even when I was still on meds. But they're more intense now that I'm not on meds anymore, and they still drain the life out of me.

I miss you, Moe-Moe.

Link Me Up, Scotty - Irony and Freedom Edition

I love Bernie Sanders, and here's a fine example of why. And I especially love how Martin Shkreli has become America's favorite Shitbird.
___________

NPR highlights "The Richness of Poor Places" from NatGeo's annual photography contest. It behooves me to remember that the richness of life is not determined by the money in my bank account.
___________

The government will soon require drone hobbyists to register their devices. There's a part of me that finds this deeply troubling, even while I can understand the rationale for doing so.
___________

I respect Gloria Steinem. Her work in the area of feminism was seminal, and I appreciate all she's done. But I don't always agree with her, and especially about why liberal women don't necessarily like Hillary Clinton.
___________

Video of my Heart: Neo-Nazis in Germany have their annual hate-fest walk re-purposed for charity. A charity that helps people leave the neo-Nazi movement. Irony, thy name is Wunsiedel, and I love you for it. 



Link Me Up, Scotty - Doing the Right Thing Edition

Monday, October 19, 2015

I color. A lot. Here's why. 

__________

If you're a fan of Twitter and want some "snort coffee up your nose" moments, follow @manwhohasitall, where the typical inane career an family advice aimed at women is turned to the male work force with hilarious (and distressing) results.

H/T Sister Stacey
__________

Turns out there's a lot we don't know about Ebola. Tenacious little fucker.
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My brain is an asshole. But science can help me turn the tide of happiness.
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Scalzi wields the clue-bat on the 1% and their therapists. From the article: "I am not necessarily comparing it to what people of color have to go through, but …"

Agog. I am agog at the tone-deafness and entitlement inherent in this simple statement.
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I simply love this story of a community coming together to create sports garb for Muslim girls. This is how self-determination and independence begins - these young women are participating safely and comfortably in a "boys" activity while still satisfying the modesty norms of their religion and culture.
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Again, feeding the hungry.
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Video of my Heart: An ingenious mechanism to shame people into stop parking in disabled parking spots when they don't display the appropriate placard.



H/T the amazing NeuronDoc
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Design of the Day: Mandala