Link Me Up, Scotty - Teach your children well edition

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

10 things a mother wants her daughter to know when she grows up. This isn't just for little girls.

H/T Kimby
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From the Mighty Girl files: When Sibongile Sambo applied to be a flight attendant, she was rejected because she didn't meet the height requirements. So she created her own airlines.

H/T Debbie the Librarian
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The REAL reason the President didn't visit Louisiana immediately. Go home, Republicans. You're drunk. Of course, we've known that since early in the primary season...
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It's time to start thinking about your annual flu shot. So here's some epic ranting about anti-vaccine dumbasses - health care workers who refuse to get their flu shot - for your pleasure.

H/T Sister Paula
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In an amazing slight of hand, the Federal government has passed a "Defense Bill" that essentially hands Native American sacred sites over to...a mining company. WHAT THE HELL.

H/T Brother Juan
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My celebrity boyfriend Neill deGrasse Tyson disassembles a tasteless "science" joke on Twitter. HA HA.
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I love octopuses - their alien intelligence and emotional complexity speaks to me. This one is ESPECIALLY cute. So cute, in fact, that scientists might name it Opisthoteuthis adorabilis. 
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My old chum Chris Tomlinson takes on the EpiPen controversy, and how it's a symptom of a much larger problem.
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An explorer's ode to our National Parks. Since it's our National Park System's 100th anniversary, I find these photos especially enchanting. Plus, black and white photography is the bomb-diggity.
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A report on OTC painkillers confirms that acetaminophen is basically worthless for pain relief. Please observe my shocked face.
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49ers Quarterback Colin Kaepernick makes a political statement by not standing for the National Anthem, and people lose their collective shit, accusing him of being a traitor (and worse). Here's why he's not a traitor, but is using peaceful protest to express his dissatisfaction with our government. ClueBat: This behavior is at the HEART of what it means to be American. Being American is not about blind loyalty or obedience to the majority. It's about knowing you yourself are responsible for our government, and then using legal means to change things that need to be changed. As a professional athlete, Colin Kaepernick has a wider footprint than most, and so feels obligated to use it. Even though I would never use the tactic he used, as a veteran I support his right to do so.
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Surely you've seen that ridiculous "how to talk to a woman who is wearing headphones" article? No? You can find it here. Just make sure you haven't eaten first. Then read my friend Eric's HI-LARIOUS satire of this attitude over at Standing on the Shoulders of Giant Midgets. I love my friends.
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Video of my Heart: During the World Junior Soccer Championship, an "under 12" team from Barcelona called "Barca" won their match and were ecstatic. But their opponents were heartbroken, so they took time out of their celebration to comfort the other boys with handshakes, pats, and hugs. This impresses me far more than any athletic victory.

Well done, boys. Well done, indeed.

H/T Brother Juan


OMGOMGOMGOMG

Monday, August 15, 2016

I MUST GO SEE THIS MOVIE.


Link Me Up, Scotty - Give the kids a chance edition

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

For the first time, the Olympic Committee is fielding a "Refugee Olympic Team" comprised of refugee athletes who will still get an opportunity to compete in spite of their countries and communities being in turmoil. This makes my heart happy.
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Michael Barrett, who leads Missouri's Public Defender system, has assigned the job of defending one of his indigent clients to...the Governor of Missouri. Now I want to marry Michael Barrett and have his babies.
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An Army vet and Purple Heart recipient was really offended when the Trumpsicle accepted that Purple Heart during his fundraiser in Nantucket. So he created a GoFundMe page to raise money to send the Trumpscile to a combat zone so he could actually earn that medal. The success of the page (and where the money is really going) tickles me no end.
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The Guardian takes on the challenge of being a sportscaster reporting on female athletics. "NEWS REPORT: [Female Athlete] did [sports] today. [Describe sports.] THE END. Sportswriting accomplished!" Why can't some men keep their sexy-time feelings out of their jobs?

H/T Sister Jeri
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The late Captain Khan's combat brigade commander has a few words for those who would disrespect and dishonor his and his family's sacrifice. Here's the thing I don't understand about the Trumpsicle's remarks on this matter: Gold Star families are a sacred cow in this country. Only a bloody idiot would disrespect them while running for public office. But I don't believe the Trumpsicle is an idiot. He's a sociopathic reprobate, but not an idiot. So is he deliberately tanking his own candidacy so he can claim the election was "rigged" when he gets shellacked? Or is he so very thin-skinned that he's willing to tank his own candidacy because he just can't shut the fuck up when someone has the temerity to criticize him? It's probably both, but I find his psychopathy endlessly fascinating. And, apropos of everything:

This morning's tally from Nate Silver's 538 2016 Election Forecast
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I'm posting this one for the Smart Man - guitar players' minds are unique. Like THAT's news.
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An article on how "Makerspaces" can transform libraries. Our own library district is moving in this direction, too. But we need to get our three new libraries open, first.
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Your feel-good story of the day: Bride tracks down the recipient of her father's donated heart and asks him to walk her down the aisle in her father's stead. And of course he said "yes." THERE'S SOMETHING IN MY EYE.
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Humpback whales around the world on are duty against orcas who are trying to hunt a meal. Inter-species cooperation and protection. Tell me again how whales aren't sentient creatures.
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An article about communal narcissism. At first I thought this might apply to me (because everything pertains to me, dontchuno), but when I read on (and thought about the quiz), I decided no, not even a little. Hurray! A mental health problem I cannot claim as my own!
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You want to know what irritates Atheists? THIS.
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Humans of New York is doing a new series entitled "Invisible Wounds" which focuses on our returning veterans and their unique stories. Well worth your time, especially for civilians.
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A woman with ovarian cancer decided to stop treatment after thirteen years and prepares for her death. These conversations are so, so important.
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Video of my Heart: Coleman Sweeney is the world's biggest asshole.

H/T BrainDoc

Link Me Up, Scotty - Get Your Groove On Edition

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Are you a Harry Potter fan? Consider joining the Harry Potter Alliance, a charitable group brought together by their love of the Potterverse and dedicated to making the world a better place.
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It appears that the AARP is funding ALEC, so now I'll have to dump my membership in a huff. If you don't know what ALEC is, check out this Bill Moyers report on the organization, and learn about how they bypass our democracy like the shitweasels they are.
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The Military Sealift Command (MSC) will name one of its new oilers after gay rights advocate and Navy veteran Harvey Milk. Those are MY shippies.
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John Scalzi on Hillary Clinton, and the ethos of service. Say what you want about Hillary Clinton (and I know you will), but she has lived a life largely defined by her dedication to service. Since service is a core value for me, I find this characteristic in her worthy of my admiration and respect.
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The indomitable Margaret and Helen provide their opinion on the Trumpsicle and how miracles can happen. I love these ladies.
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Shortly after we lost Moe, I commissioned a piece of art from some artists who were her friends. That piece is now available for purchase from the group's RedBubble page, as well as the piece depicting Moe as the "Champion of Stars."
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A retired Army General offers his opinion not on our presidential candidates, but on why retired Generals and Admirals should keep their opinion of our presidential candidates to themselves. Indeed. At least pretending to be impartial towards who sits in the Oval Office allows both parties to trust their senior military leadership when they have to make life-or-death decisions for our Armed Forces. This should be a no brainer, but of course it isn't, given today's extremely polarized political climate.
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From the What the Fuck Files: Malawi's "Hyena Men" are paid by parents to have sex with their daughters, some as young as 12 years old. Extra special fucked up bonus: The man featured in this story is HIV positive, and did not disclose that fact to the parents who hired him.
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Video of my Heart: Khizr Khan, the father of a fallen Army Captain, speaks at the DNC and tears my heart out. The look on his wife's face is one that I recognize from my own mirror, and together they give a powerful message.

So instead of doing the smart thing (never mind the RIGHT thing) and thanking their dead son for his service, or least just shutting the fuck up for a change, OF COURSE that ignorant tool who passes for a presidential candidate tried to criticize them, saying that HE, TOO, HAS MADE SACRIFICES. Like...having to pay off his first wife when she accused him of raping her? Eating his caviar Luke-warm and from a metal cup? 

Thus, he earned a well-deserved spanking from Gold Star Mother Ghazala Khan. How can anyone believe that this entitled bully is the best that America's Republicans have to offer? THE MIND BOGGLES.