Link Me Up, Scotty - Proud to be an American Edition

Monday, October 24, 2016

George Takai talks about Millennials, what it means to be an American, and why there's tremendous hope for our future. Thanks, Uncle George.

H/T Steve
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As an election judge (i.e., poll worker) for many election cycles, I've never had to take "active shooter" training as part of my preparation. But apparently, it's now necessary in some Colorado Counties. Really, people?
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Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal takes on patriotism versus nationalism, with predictable results.
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Ed Yong examines the migration and cultural groups of sperm whales around the Galapagos Islands. Whales are so cool.
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British Suffragettes took on the police in hand to hand combat to protect themselves and their sisters-in-arms while fighting for women's right to vote. Like the bad-asses they were, they studied jujutsu, and were incredibly effective. They were collectively called The Bodyguard. Mighty Girls!

H/T Brother Juan
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Smart Man David - a history Ph.D with a specialization in the birth of our country - talks about how historically, this election is not the most vitriolic in our history. It tickles me no end that my friends are so smart.
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Wells Fargo Bank is no longer accredited by the Better Business Bureau. That's a shame. 

H/T Brother Vince
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PBS is streaming a documentary about Hamilton right now. The streaming video expires November 18th, so watch it while you can. Yes, I know I'm late to the party, since I just bought the soundtrack on Sunday.
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"Nearly 10,000 soldiers, many of whom served multiple combat tours, have been ordered to repay large enlistment bonuses — and slapped with interest charges, wage garnishments and tax liens if they refuse — after audits revealed widespread overpayments by the California Guard at the height of the wars last decade." Like this is in any way the fault of the service members who accepted that money - and then served in combat roles - in good faith. This is some shameful, shameful shit, Pentagon, and makes me apoplectic with rage. As my friend Joe asks, "Got another executive order in you, Mr. President?"

Alternatively, there's a Change.org petition you can sign on these service member's behalf.





Link Me Up, Scotty - Implosions-R-Us edition

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

How bad do you have to be as a "conservative" politician before students at Liberty University decide you're too reprehensible to be associated with their University? Apparently the Trumpscicle found that line, and crossed it.
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Three kinds of grief nobody talks about. This is so, so, true. When Moe passed, I grieved not only for the loss of her in the world and in my life, but for the person I was before she died.

H/T Sistah Stacey
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My favorite Christian Pastor John Pavlovitz addresses the long term ramifications to the boys in our lives when we fail to condemn the behavior and words of the Trumpsicle and allow this sort of shit to be normalized. There's not a single man on this planet that I would respect who would say and do the things the GOP's candidate for President has admitted to doing. And if you defend him for it, well, prepare to be judged by the company you keep.
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E is for Empathy. Sesame Street is taking a stab at teaching kids the value of empathy and kindness, a quality sorely lacking in some adults these days. Also: Watching Mark Ruffalo do the "Happy Dance" is worth it.
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Oh, Onion, never, ever change
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Animals in the news.
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A service animal gets a caricature drawn at Disneyland, and the photo went viral. Because of course it did. What a good, good dog.
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Video of my Heart: President Obama encourages people to vote early with his usual sense of humor. Don't go....Please stay....


Link Me Up, Scotty - I'm with her edition

Sunday, October 16, 2016

Cracked's David Wong takes on the deeper reasons why the Trumpsicle is so popular among rural voters. Honestly, this is the best analysis of the Trump phenomenon I've read. I've been struggling all election season to understand clearly why people would turn to such a reprobate, and this essay gave me that understanding. It still doesn't address why relatively well-off (but not 1%ers) like him, but it's a place to start.
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John Scalzi explains why he's voting for Hillary Clinton for president. I can co-sign on all of his points to a greater or lesser degree, but I have to admit that his points about white, male privilege really resonated with me. While I've only experienced 30+ years of it, as opposed to her 50+, I feel her pain in the most personal way imaginable.
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Ladies, our will is the law of the land. And don't think the knuckle-dragging misogynists don't know it. Why else was #repealthe19th trending on social media? You know what I say to that? Fuck off, knuckle-dragging misogynists. And take your disgraceful oompa-loompa excuse for a candidate with you.

::mic drop::
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A Christian Pastor on the subject of caring for rape survivors in light on the despicable behavior of Trump and his Jabba-the-Hutt supporters. One out of every six women in this country has been the victim of sexual assault or attempted sexual assault. Do you think they may have a different point of view when it comes to consent?

I can't emphasize this enough. Since we can't prevent the Obamas from leaving the White House for another 4 years - VOTE.
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An essay about women and how we move through the world hoping that we don't become the victims of violence and harassment. And why now, in this hour, is the time to say ENOUGH. This is a FB link - I apologize for to those without an account.
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Three men are charged with plotting an attack on a Kansas apartment building because...wait for it...Somali immigrants live there. Tell me again how we need to fear the immigrants in this country? I couldn't hear you amid all the violent rhetoric and action coming from the alt-right.
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A sexual abuse survivor talks about how the revelations about Trump's predatory behavior - and his apologists' reactions - are agonizing.
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From the "Thank you, Captain Obvious" files: Americans are stressed out about the 2016 general election.
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Link Me Up, Scotty - Do your damn job edition

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Popehat's Ken White explains why Hillary Clinton's vigorous defense of a man accused of committing rape in 1975 is a feature, not a bug, although her subsequent interview on the matter was completely inappropriate (but not for the reasons you think). All you Alt-Right goons claim you're so very fond of the Constitution. Perhaps you should read it then, paying especial attention to the 6th Amendment of the Bill of Rights.
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Speculation that pro-Trump poll watchers may interfere with polling places in order to suppress the vote. Democracy at work, y'all. Well, I'm an election judge again this year, and fully versed on Colorado Election Law as it relates to poll watchers. Anyone who behaves inappropriately will be asked to leave, and the poll manager is authorized to call law enforcement to enforce that directive. Not that my county would be subject to voter suppression from the Trumpsicle, as red as we are.

H/T Steve
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John Scalzi on why the Trumpsicle is the candidate the GOP created and deserves. Like Scalzi, I feel empathy for my Republican and conservative friends and family who still have some modicum of human decency and so repudiate Trump. Where are they to go for a candidate that doesn't make them throw up in their mouth? It's not like the Republicans have been fiscal conservatives in the last 50 years - not even a little. We need a new conservative party, that retains the values and fiscal responsibility of the old conservative party, but eschews the racism, sexism, and fear that is the personification of the Republicans. But I'm not holding my breath.

Happy Ada Lovelace Day!

Tuesday, October 11, 2016


Today is Ada Lovelace Day, a day designated to celebrate the contributions of women in science and technology. Ada Lovelace was a badass, and I'm proud that she's considered the face of the first women to work in STEM.

This day is important for those of us who work in STEM, since there are still so few of us.

So to all my sisters who work in STEM, please take a moment today and be proud that you're contributing to the sea change that will someday allow female scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians to be as common place as female medical doctors.

Keep calculating!


Link Me Up, Scotty - Give me the good old days edition

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

My semi-celebrity platonic boyfriend misses the Republican Party, and so do I. Can you believe there were several occasions when I actually voted for Republicans? I did. More than once. And I wish I still had that option.
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From the we need a better class of criminal files, check out these hilarious pieces of free legal advice from a West Virginia attorney named L. Scott Briscoe.
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Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore has been suspended from his office (again) for the duration of his term by the Alabama Court of the Judiciary for failing to comply (again) with the law. At the end of his term (2019), he'll be too old to seek reelection, so hopefully this will be last we hear of this Dominionist Whackadoo. (I'm so funny).
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Check out these 100 year old colorized portraits of NYC immigrants. Plan to spend some time, as this project celebrates the amazing diversity of our country, and their culture specific attire is fascinating. My favorite was the Ruthenian woman, as I find her very compelling in the same way that Sharbat Gula's National Geographic photograph was compelling.
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The Atlantic has entries from the 2016 National Geographic Photographer of the Year Contest. My favorites are 5, 9, 16, and 19.
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John Scalzi's new Audiobook, The Dispatcher, is currently available for free on Audible, and is narrated by Zachary Quinto. I'm a huge audiobook listener, and I enjoy Scalzi's work, so I listened to it. Zachary Quinto is does a pretty good job, and the story is more noir than Scalzi usually produces. I liked it.
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A letter from a Freedman to his former master after the Civil War. I love this.

H/T Brother Larry