Link Me Up, Scotty - Science FTW Edition

Saturday, December 31, 2016

It appears that that an experimental vaccine used at the end of the last Ebola outbreak is 100% effective. It hasn't yet received regulatory approval, but the initial results are so encouraging that an emergency stockpile of 300,000 doses is now in place. The ingenuity of humanity when we face dire straits (and the passion with which it's applied), never fails to humble and awe me.

(NYT: Mainstream Media source with minimal partisan bias)
________

A pictorial essay of the "war on drugs" taking place in the Philippines. The title is They are Slaughtering Us Like Animals. This is what normalizing bad behavior in our politicians ultimately looks like. Parental guidance is suggested.

(NYT: Mainstream Media source with minimal partisan bias)
________

Uncle George on our places in the upcoming resistance. "Be ready, be strong, and be vigilant." Good advice at any time.

(The Advocate: A left-leaning LGBT magazine with an editorial focus on news, politics, opinion, and arts and entertainment.)
________

Uncle George on our places in the upcoming resistance. "Be ready, be strong, and be vigilant." Good advice at any time.

(The Advocate: A left-leaning LGBT magazine with an editorial focus on news, politics, opinion, and arts and entertainment.)
________

As we move into 2017 with courage and conviction, it behooves us to examine what good a Trump presidency may do for our country.

(WaPo: Mainstream media source with minimal partisan bias)
________

Ah, the Trump/Obama transition. What could possibly go wrong?

H/T Steve

(Politico: A center rated political journal that focuses on United States and international politics and policy.)
________

Moyers & Co. on how progressives can manage a Trump presidency over the next four years.

(Moyers & Co.: A reputable left-leaning source of news)
________

Secretary of State John Kerry is speaking his mind on the status of peace in the Middle East, the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, and the behavior of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in light of the the recent UN Security Council vote. I'm one of those people who think both sides of that dispute have valid points and that both sides have also behaved very badly, indeed, and I think more and more people are coming to that point of view. I wonder how long it will take the Israeli government to realize this?

(NYT: Mainstream Media source with minimal partisan bias)
________

Vera Rubin, the astrophysicist who found evidence of Dark Matter, has passed away at the age of 88. Vera Rubin was a total bad-ass, a woman who was in the forefront of the continuing sea-change regarding women in science. She was also never awarded the Nobel Prize for her amazing discoveries, in spite of being a favorite in the field since the 1980s.

Fair winds and following seas, Vera.

(NPR:  Mainstream Media source with minimal partisan bias)
________

And I thought I was a lover of books. In the 1800s, the European upper classes fell victim to  “bibliomania,” a dark pseudo-psychological illness. Symptoms included a frenzy for culling and hunting down first editions, rare copies, books of certain sizes or printed on specific paper.

H/T Brother Juan

(Atlas Obscura: A collaborative project exposing esoteric and interesting stories from around the world.)

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas, my True Love Gave to Me...

Sunday, December 25, 2016

My platonic musical boyfriend, Leslie Odom, Jr., singing Winter Song from Simply Christmas.




Whatever you celebrate this holiday season, enjoy the day and count whatever blessings you have in your life.

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas, my True Love Gave to Me...

Saturday, December 24, 2016

Voctave, singing This is my Wish/Let There be Peace on Earth. This group has the best soprano choral singer I've every heard (the shorter blonde). Simply remarkable.


On the Tenth Day of Christmas, my True Love Gave to Me...

Friday, December 23, 2016

Trans-Siberian Orchestra singing This Christmas Day from Christmas Eve and Other Stories. 


Link Me Up, Scotty - Tradition FTW Edition


The U.S. Navy has decided to overturn their September decision to get rid of its 241 year tradition of job ratings (such as "Boatswain's Mate," "Hospital Corpsman," and "Yeoman"). These job titles were supposed to be replaced by a numerical classification system (MOS, for those of you familiar with the Army and the Marine Corps).

The outcry was vociferous enough, and went on long enough, for the CNO to change his mind. This is a good thing, as I'll be a Radioman until the day I die regardless of what the CNO says, and most sailors feel the same way about their own rate.

(Business Insider: Mainstream media source with minimal partisan bias concentrating on business)
________

I found this meme about children and consent to be very thought provoking. I made this mistake on a somewhat minimal basis with the twins, and now wish I had not. Children need to understand, early and often, that they have the right to withhold consent for physical affection, regardless of who's asking.
________

The 2017 Pirelli calendar features women of all ages, and all of the photographs are untouched. I love that Pirelli is continuing to explore new themes for their iconic calendar other than T&A.
________

My favorite Christian Pastor writes an open letter to Hillary Clinton.
________

The families of the victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting have decided to sue Facebook, Twitter, and Google because they provide the medium for perpetrators to coordinate their efforts.

No one has more empathy for these families than me. No one. But it appears this lawsuit has very little legal merit, and the Communications Decency Act has always protected tech companies in the past against actions like this. I can't help wonder if the legal team behind this suit isn't taking advantage of the families, on this, their first holiday season without their loved ones. I know I wasn't thinking very clearly the first year after we lost Moe. I'm just very, very lucky that I had people who loved me and looked out for me when I was most vulnerable.

(WaPo: Mainstream media source with minimal partisan bias)

On the Ninth Day of Christmas, my True Love Gave to Me...

Thursday, December 22, 2016

The incomparable Tori Amos singing Jeanette Isabella from Midwinter Graces. 


On the Eigth Day of Christmas, my True Love Gave to Me...

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Pentatonix singing Little Drummer Boy. This is probably one of my favorite arrangements from PTX.


Link Me Up, Scotty - Your Health and Mine Edition


For we suicide loss survivors, the holidays can be an especially tough time. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention asked survivors for their best advice to help manage the grief, then published the results, including my own thoughts on the topic.
________

According to a Harvard study, it turns out that older patients treated by female doctors have better objective outcomes than those treated by male doctors. I firmly believe that there is a wide range of efficacy in every profession, without regard to gender. I find these results fascinating, however, and would be very interested in the root cause of the disparity.

(NPR: Mainstream Media source with minimal partisan bias)
________

Nobel Laureate in economics Dr. Paul Krugman on just how serious America's political situation has become. This isn't the first time I've heard informed writers compare the United States of the last 100 years to the Roman Empire. Trump isn't the cause of this mess - he's the result of it. Normalizing the behavior of the Republican Party will lead to our ruin. 

(NYT: Mainstream Media source with minimal partisan bias)
________

Turns out the FAA is helping police suppress reporting from the Dakota Pipeline protests. Tell me again how the current U.S. Government is "for the people, by the people." Money talks, democracy walks.


(ACLU: Non-profit, non-partisan organization working to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States.)
________

President Obama has added an historic 153 individuals to the list of people granted clemency by his administration. And why the hell not? It's not like the Republicans are going to hate him any more if he changes these people's lives for the better and gives them another chance. And it means everything to these non-violent offenders and their families.

WaPo: Mainstream media source with minimal partisan bias)
________

The amazing Misty Copeland was sent by President Obama and the State Department to Havana, Cuba, as part of a sports exchange program aimed at Cuba's youth. The other athlete was Shaquille O'Neal, who taught basketball clinics. She's an amazing person. 
________ 

Video of my Heart: The Secret Life of Muslims tells us what it's like to be a Muslim on the Internet. Hint: NEVER READ THE COMMENTS...especially on this video.


On the Seventh Day of Christmas, my True Love Gave to Me...

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Celtic Thunder singing Christmas 1915.


On the Sixth Day of Christmas, my True Love Gave to Me...

Monday, December 19, 2016

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra singing The World That She Sees from The Christmas Attic. This one is especially poignant for me, as my Moe-Moe loved Christmas very much, and also loved TSO.


Link Me Up, Scotty - Be Advised by Experts Edition


Fifteen mistakes to avoid while traveling. None of these were news to me, but they were all hard-learned.
________

Most of America's hate groups are rooted in White Supremacy. This should not be news to anyone who doesn't live under a damned rock.

(VOX: Skews left but still a reliable source of in-depth news)
________

National Geographic put a transgender girl on the cover of a special edition on gender. People were either very grateful for the exposure or lost their shit, depending on their worldview. So the Editor wrote a letter to explain the choice and the reason for the special edition. Thank you, National Geographic, for exploring the role gender plays in young people's lives.
________

How President-Elect Orange is the New Black's Twitter tantrums are actually helping traditional news outlets come back to the forefront of news. I myself subscribe to The Washington Post, and am considering adding The New York Times in addition to my regular donations to NPR and ProPublica.

(NYT: Mainstream Media source with minimal partisan bias)
________

My semi-celebrity platonic boyfriend Eric Gardner explores why Putin (the President-Elect's butt-buddy) is so very interested in the outcome of the U.S. election...and what it means to us.
________

I stole this from Jim Hines' Twitter feed because it's bloody awesome and everyone needs to know these behaviors, both for their own sake, and the sake of those they love. I have seen these behaviors in action, and believe me - it hardly ever ends well for the person on the receiving end.


________

FactCheck gives us the biggest whoppers of 2016. Can you guess who's front and center in their report? I knew you could.

(FactCheck: Non-profit centrist, dedicated to truth in journalism)
________

Doonesbury on press coverage of President-Elect Orange-is-the-New-Black. It's going to be a bumpy ride, children.
________

Video of my Heart: An advertisement (based on real events) that shows what a small act of kindness can do for others. 

 

H/T the Superlative Carolyn

On the Fifth Day of Christmas, my True Love Gave to Me...

Sunday, December 18, 2016

Welcome, Christmas sung by the Whos of Whoville in The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.


On the Fourth Day of Christmas, my True Love Gave to Me...

Saturday, December 17, 2016

Peter Hollens and 300 of his closest friends who also sing a Capella singing Carol of the Bells.

Llink Me Up, Scotty - Nothing Could Go Wrong Edition


The Atlantic's cover story on the Presidency of Barack Obama, written by 2015 MacArthur fellow Ta-Nehisi Coates. Like most of Mr. Coates' writings, this one is long, but so worth the time to read it.

(The Atlantic: Skews left but still a reliable source of in-depth news)
________

President Orange is the New Black's pick for Ambassador to Israel is farther right on the topic of Israel/Palestine relations than any Ambassador in history. He considers Jewish Americans who believe in a two-state solution to be worse than kapos (Jews who helped the Nazis run concentration camps in exchange for special privileges).

(VOX: Skews left but still a reliable source of in-depth news)
________

An excellent guide on why spammy click-bait on Facebook is bad for you. Actually, it's bad for everyone. Think of the children. 
________

Black Lung Disease is surging in Appalachia, which is understandable since the government was under reporting the rate of incidence by over 900%. But we don't need OSHA, or any of those other interfering regulatory bodies to protect our workers. No, Siree. THE FREE MARKET WILL TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING.


This makes my heart ache for those families. What a horrible, painful way to die.

(NPR: Mainstream Media source with minimal partisan bias)
________

Do you feel helpless to enact change in light of the completely out of control upcoming White Nationalist Administration? Lots of people do. But here's a helpful guide on how to take action written by people "in the know" - former progressive Congressional staffers. Let us move forward with courage and conviction, my friends.

H/T Eleanor
________

Both the FBI and the CIA agree that Russia's interference in our election process was designed to help President Orange is the New Black win the Presidency. This is my shocked face. No, really - totally amazed that this turned out to the be case.

Also NOT SHOCKED that when I wrote my Senator about this issue (Cory Gardner, for those keeping score at home), he referenced a Department of Homeland Security report from mid-October as a justification for doing nothing. Want to guess Senator Gardner's political party? I knew you could.

(NPR: Mainstream Media source with minimal partisan bias)
________

An opinion piece from the New York Times by a professor who has been placed on the "Professor Watchlist," an online repository of university teachers who "advance leftist propaganda in the classroom." 

McCarthy would be so proud.  

Fuck "Turning Point USA" and the horse and carriage that brings them to school on their parents' nickel. I would go out of my way to take a course from any professor who makes it on this list, whether I agreed with their specific flavor of politics, or not. Because fuck you and your "Watchlist," you dictatorial pieces of shit. 

(NYT: Mainstream Media source with minimal partisan bias)
________

The fascinating story of the etymology of "Xmas." It's not an insult, y'all.

On the Third Day of Christmas, my True Love Gave to Me...

Friday, December 16, 2016

Home Free, who has my second favorite bass in all of music, singing Do You Hear What I Hear. 


Link Me Up, Scotty - Badass Women Edition


Buzzfeed brings us their annual Badass Women You Didn't Know About in 2016 list. All of these women deserve my admiration and respect, but I'm especially impressed by those who would risk their safety in an effort to live in a more egalitarian society.
________

I just have to share this, and I'm still trying not to be politically confrontational over on the Book of Face, so you get the benefit of my sarcastic humor here at HCDSM:


This actually made me LOL.
________

The New York Times editorial board publishes an opinion piece on what President Cheeto's cabinet picks have in store for themselves. Even though these people think they're above all the plebeian requirements of being vetted for conflicts of interest and financial shenanigans, they're really, really, not. Because the requirements are different between the President and the Cabinet, and the vetting for Cabinet members is a matter of law rather than one of personal ethics (of which President Cheeto has none).

(NYT: Mainstream Media source with minimal partisan bias)
________

A report on how Russian hackers compromised America's cybersecurity. We are so fucked.

 (NYT: Mainstream Media source with minimal partisan bias)
________

President Cheeto is constantly criticizing how the media covers the things he says.
For the last month I decided not to do interviews, because they give interviews and they chop up your sentences and cut them short. You will have this beautiful flowing sentence where the back of the sentence reverts to the front and they cut the back of the sentence off, and I say I never said that. So, I said, you know what, I am not going to deal with them. They are very dishonest people, I said.
"Beautiful flowing sentences." Sure. Well, Vox decided to explore that claim with some professional linguists to see what was really going on. Their results are far more complex - and more enlightening - than "Trump speaks like a 1st grader with ADHD," which is what I thought.

(VOX: Skews left but still a reliable sources of in-depth news)
________

Those ridiculous MRAs (Men's Rights Advocates) have apparently found a new home with the Alt-Right, other wise known as the Misogynist White Nationalist Men for the Regression of Human Rights. Shocked. Shocked I am by this turn of events. Not.

(New Yorker Magazine: Skews left, is considered as biased as the conservative publication The Economist for comparison purposes)
________

FactCheck has their annual "FactCheck Awards" where they highlight some TV ads that made them laugh out loud and either shake their heads or scratch them. I love FactCheck.

(FactCheck: Non-profit centrist, dedicated to truth in journalism)
________

On the Second Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me...

Thursday, December 15, 2016

One of my favorite a Cappella groups, Pentatonix singing one of my all-time favorite songs, Hallelujah, by Leonard Cohen.


On the First Day of Christmas, my True Love Gave to Me...

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Local a Capella group Face Vocal Band singing one of my favorite Christmas songs, O Holy Night.*





*Yes, I love Christmas Carols. Yes, I'm an Atheist. No, I'm not an asshole about it.

Link Me Up, Scotty - the Keep Your Dirty Hands Off my Spoons Edition


Abi Sutherland over at Making Light on the topic of caring for ourselves and others during times of dread.
...no one is entitled to another person’s energy, attention, or joy3. Not random sea lions on the internet, nor politicians, pundits and priests. My term for people who demand my energy without my consent is spoon bandits; I’m as fond of them as I am of any brigand or pickpocket. There are people whose requests for my attention I will entertain; there are also requests that are entertaining enough that I’ll listen on those merits alone. But my energy is mine.
H/T Brother Steve
________

A young college student from Oregon decided to create an art project centering on how our President-Elect views women. These are his own words. They're not taken out of context, they're not "false" or "inaccurate" - he actually said these things, it's a documented fact.

This is one of the reasons I will never, ever understand how a woman - or anyone who ever cared about a woman - could vote for this reprobate. That's our President, ladies and gentlemen. Nice job, America.
________

Harry Potter loving scientists discover a new spider species that looks like the Sorting Hat. So they named it Eriovixia gryffindori. Sometimes the world is a pretty neat place.

H/T Brother Nathan
________

NPR brings us a "who's who" in the future Trump administration. Jesus wept.
________

A thoughtful piece on how to criticize conservative women without being a sexist douchcanoe. Litmus test: If what you're about to say is a misogynist, disgusting, sexually charged comment when it's made against a liberal woman, then guess what? It's STILL a misogynist, disgusting, sexually charged comment when you're talking about KellyAnne Conway, or Melania Trump, or Anne Coulter.

I can't believe I'm sticking up for KellyAnne Conway, Melania Trump and Anne Coulter. Thanks, fellow liberals, for bringing me to the Bizarro World Cliffs of Insanity and leaving me there. Thanks A LOT.
________

Zen Pencils on Marie Curie's joy and happiness in pursuing her scientific endeavors with her beloved at her side. A life well-lived.
________

Climate scientist working for the Federal government are frantically copying their data, research, and findings from an upcoming hostile Trump administration. The fact that these scientists are so genuinely concerned that they're resorting to "guerrilla archiving" says a little something about how science and facts are viewed in this country these days. Angels and Ministers of Grace, defend us.

Friends, Fact Checks, and the Three Strikes Rule

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

For the most part, I like Facebook. It allows me to keep in touch with people that I don't see very often, and share events from my own life with those I care about. For me, this is the purpose of Facebook.

But that's not everyone's purpose.

Many people in my feed these days are (still) constantly posting political content. I'm okay with that for the most part - people should use Facebook in whatever manner they choose, and I'm not the boss of anyone but me and Miss Jackson Pi. If I find it tedious, I can always hide their source material or if it gets too bad, I can hide their feeds entirely or shunt them out the airlock.

But what makes me grind my teeth is when they share something that is not well-sourced. People share fake news, they share unsubstantiated news, they share crap from citizen "journalists" who really have no idea whatsoever how to research original sources, discern truth from fiction, or even entertain that the facts might be in conflict with their emotionally held beliefs. They share propaganda from organizations who have an axe to grind and so don't care what kind of unsubstantiated bullshit they put out there as long as it gets the emotional reaction they desire. UGH. No, really - UGH.

Because I'm a liberal, I tend to see this nonsense more often from liberals than conservatives in my feed. I rarely see White Nationalist bullshit, because that sort of tripe will get you a trip out the airlock with no possibility of reprieve, but there's still plenty of right-leaning crap that gets shared without any discernment whatsoever. This keeps the left-leaning crap company.

IT'S EVERYWHERE, AND I'M SICK OF IT.

Why is it so very hard to apply basic research skills before you share this stuff? Here's a handy guide:


This is not that hard. No, really, it's not. If you want to double check the accuracy of a report, simply Google the gist of it. Sites will come up who are carrying that "news." If they're reputable (WashPo, WSJ, The Econonist, NPR, ProPublica), then cite the reputable news source and not the third bullshitter from the left. They likely have more detail than the bullshitter.

If the only hits you get are from outlets who clearly value emotional baiting above journalism (WND, Bipartisan Report, etc.) then perhaps the story isn't actually, you know, true, and you should probably do additional research to determine what the facts are.

There are people in this world who make their living doing this work. They're called "journalists," and the best ones are employed by organizations who maintain tried and true standards by which they judge their content - before they put it out into the world. Do they occasionally make mistakes? Of course they do. And when they do, they pay for it with their credibility and their trust. But please do not try to convince me that there are "no" news sources that are worthy of trust, or that "there is no research or reading you can do to know the truth."* 

Spare me such drivel, and do everyone a favor and check and cite your sources before you spread your partisan brand of bullshit into the world. 

In fact, I'm considering a "three strikes and you're out" rule. Spread easily discernible falsehoods on Facebook more than twice, and you get the airlock. Liberal or conservative doesn't matter - but your mental laziness does.

________
*A direct, no shit quote from a "just give him a chance" Trump supporter. My initial response was to think, "Well, there may not be research or reading that YOU can do, but I went to college and have basic research and analytic skills." I did not, however - it was on an acquaintance's wall, and I have better things to do than antagonize perfect strangers.

Link Me Up, Scotty - Ferocious Women Edition

Monday, December 12, 2016

You know, I've always admired Dolly Parton. She's a hell of a musician, and by all accounts a decent human being, as well. And apparently I'm not the only one who thinks so.
________

The Atlantic provides some hopeful photographs from 2016. Number 31 makes me ridiculously happy.
________

A lovely story about Annie Glenn, wife to amazing person John Glenn, who is quite amazing in her own right. Now I'm crying again. Stupid humans, who continue to be awesome in spite of our crazy world.
________

Madonna is my kind of fiery feminist. Talk to me sometime about what it was like to serve as a woman in the pre-Tailhook Navy, and why I admire Assistant Secretary of the Navy Barbara Pope so very much. Nothing changes unless we stand up for ourselves and others.
________

Teen Vogue takes on the President-Elect and advises their core audience to"wake up" and show some discernment in the acceptance and dissemination of information:
There are things you can and should be doing to turn your unrest into action, but first let's empower ourselves with information. Insist on fact-checking every Trump statement you read, every headline you share or even relay to a friend over coffee. If you find factual inaccuracies in an article, send an email to the editor, and explain how things should have been clearer. Inform yourself what outlets are trustworthy and which aren’t. If you need extra help, seek out a browser extension that flags misleading sites or print out a list of fake outlets, such as the one by communications professor Melissa Zimdars, and tape it to your laptop. Do a thorough search before believing the agenda Trump distributes on Twitter. Refuse to accept information simply because it is fed to you, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. That is now the base level of what is required of all Americans. If facts become a point of debate, the very definition of freedom will be called into question.
Teen girl magazines have come a long way since I was their target audience...which is nothing but good. Be sure to watch the video at the end of the article - these young people are our future, and deserve our respect and admiration.

H/T Brother Steve
________

Veteran journalist Dan Rather posted this to his Facebook page, and because some of my readers don't have Facebook accounts, I'm going to copy and paste it here. This election season I have found Mr. Rather's analysis and commentary so spot on, so pertinent to an adult political conversation, that I soundly wish he would choose a venue that didn't require an account/login in order for his work to be shared more widely.
Forget talking about the Trump Administration. The question now is whether this will be a Trump Putin Administration or a Putin Trump Administration.

Trump can publicly diss the findings of the CIA all he wants - itself a worrying development for a President-elect seemingly allergic to intelligence briefings. But the reality is that America's intelligence community has found solid evidence that Russia favored electing a President Trump. Tweeting in a post-fact world doesn't change that.

You may say, didn't we already know this? But assessment is different from conjecture. Republican officials cannot be allowed to duck this issue. Yes some, like Lindsay Graham, are sounding the right notes on the dire need to protect our democratic institutions. We need a full and complete Congressional investigation. Damn partisan politics. Let the facts lead where they may. Let’s get to the truth, or as close to the truth as is humanly possible.

I am struck to the point of extreme disappointment by the complicit silence. Ronald Reagan is rolling over in his grave. This is Russia; a newly aggressive and assertive Russia. Yes, we The People need new thinking and fresh approaches for dealing with the Russia of today. And, yes—as my friend Professor Steve Cohen of New York University (one of the savviest experts on Russia in the English-speaking world) reminds me—demonizing the Russians and Putin can be carried to counter-productive extremes. And, yes, we have and have had all kinds of mutually beneficial dealings with other dictatorial regimes all over the world (leaders of the old Soviet Union, for example; or leaders past and present in China.) But this has to be weighed against the fact that Putin is a former KGB officer and has done things indicative of a demagogic strongman. Throw in the evidence of serious tampering with the recent U.S. Presidential election and what you have is the making of a global strategic showdown over American ideals.

The craven calculus of too many Republicans at this point seems to be that pursuing a reactionary policy portfolio that now includes gutting Medicare and Social Security is more important than the fact that a foreign power has meddled in an election decided in three states by a total vote total that, as somebody I read noted, could fit into a college football stadium.

The news on this front is now compounded by Trump's choice for Secretary of State - Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson - who has close ties to Putin. This is on top of multiple other links to Russia from members of Trump's inner circle.

The Founding Fathers worried about a demagogue rising to power backed by a foreign adversary. That notion seemed to diminish to the point of a quaint anachronism over the centuries as our democracy solidified and our strength as a world power grew. No longer.

Perhaps it is too strong to suggest that to countenance what Putin and Russia did in our presidential election with a shrug or a justification forfeits the right to call yourself a patriot, no matter how many flags lapel pins you own... that may be going too far. But maybe not.
I don't think it's going too far. I think it's not going far enough. The words that come to mind include traitor, and treasonist, and defector. I spent a goodly portion of my adult life as a Cold Warrior with direct responsibility for information and technology that I swore to protect against the Soviet Union and her allies. I take the Russian threat quite seriously - Putin is not fucking around, and neither should we. I've already sent notes to my Senators and Representatives. Have you?
________

The amazing and gifted Toni Morrison wrote a prescient essay in March of 2015 about the correct actions for artists in times of dread. I would submit that all people of conscience have an obligation in this arena, not just artists. "There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear." Indeed not. Let us move forward, with courage and conviction.

H/T Debbie the Librarian
________

The Mayor of Denver orders police to stop confiscating blankets and tents from the homeless population. Wait....what? Why the hell were they doing that in the first fucking place? And why did it take the threat of a Federal lawsuit to get them to stop? What the fuck is wrong with people? No, really - what?

Link Me Up, Scotty - Hope and Dread Edition

Friday, December 9, 2016

My pal Alex addresses their Republican relative on why members of the LGBTQ community are scared to death of our new White Nationalist Administration (WNA). Word.
________

Crooks and Liars describes a plan that would allow Senate Democrats to confirm Merrick Garland as a Justice of the Supreme Court in spite of the upcoming Republican majority. Be bold, Senators. The process described is legal, within Senate rules, and allows the President's choice to be appointed in spite of Republican obstructionism. It's not like the Republicans will be any less smug and obstructionist once they hold the majority, so seize the day.
________

Coal companies are about to deprive 16,000 retired coal workers of their pensions and health benefits. This is basically the same moral issue as the Dakota Access Pipeline. People with the most to lose are first in line to get screwed. Rich, amoral douchecanoes are perfectly willing to take all kinds of risks in their business dealings, providing they're not the ones who have to pay the piper when shit goes South. Pitchforks and torches, y'all - they're coming.
________

NPR's Book Concierge has published their Best Books of 2016 list. So many tasty choices! Except my "to read/listen" list now has over 75 titles on it, and I'm not sure I need to add a bunch more.

H/T Brother Steve
________

From the Apoplectic with Rage Files: The American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom is now tracking hate crimes against libraries, books, and patrons because of a sudden uptick in these incidences. I'll give you one guess as to who the target of these crimes are. Hint: It's not Christian White Nationalists.

Libraries are supposed to be safe spaces where people can feed their mind openly and without fear of retribution. There's a reason libraries stood up to the FBI and other law enforcement agencies when they came looking for library records under the Patriot Act. And now these reprobates are pissing on the courage and convictions of librarians because they don't understand the actual purpose of libraries. Grrr. 

H/T Brother Juan
________

Video of my Heart: This Christmas commercial from Poland about the power of connection.

I'm not crying, you're crying.


A Spiteful Bitch

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Today I went to the Rec Center at lunchtime for lap-swim. I haven't used lap-swim as a means of cardio conditioning since my last Navy PRT...which was a very long time ago, indeed. 

Here's what I learned:
  1. If you haven't done lap-swimming as cardio conditioning for a very long time indeed, you should probably not try to match your pace from the dawn of civilization. Hints that your goals are not realistic: Noodly arms, dizziness upon exiting the pool, and finding your head sinking in the water on your last lap. The lifeguard didn't have to fish me out or anything, but I'm glad I stopped when I did - at the 25 minute mark. I lost count of my laps. 
  2. The chlorine in the pool makes my already winter-dry skin feel like poorly cured leather. I may need something stronger than my trusty Aveeno.
  3. I should probably not choose two cardio activities that require serious arm involvement two days in a row, because now my arms want a divorce. 
  4. I love my Speedo tank suit for laps, but I'd forgotten what a pain in the ass it is to get it OFF. At some point, I expect I'm going to injure my back in an effort to do so. 
Middle age, you are a spiteful bitch.

Link Me Up, Scotty - Hope and Outrage Edition

Monday, December 5, 2016

My favorite Christian pastor offers words of hope and encouragement during this dark time in our nation's history. #nevillefightsback
________

President Obama and his sacred duty to the wounded at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. While I didn't agree with some of the President's policies, I will miss him terribly once he's gone.
________

The Atlantic publishes their 2016 Photographs of the Year.
________

Remember when I was bitching about how the DoD was making veterans pay back re-enlistment bonuses due to an error on the part of the government and its representatives? Well, lawmakers have taken action to help relieve those service members of this burden. It's nice to be pleasantly surprised by our ne'er do well legislative branch.
________

With the real failure of media coverage on the Standing Rock protests, leave it to Cracked to be the one to actually do some, you know, journalism. So the heinous fuckery up there continued to escalate, until the Army Corps of Engineers put a temporary halt to construction.

Who thinks the pipeline will be rerouted after President Cheeto takes office? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Yeah, I thought not. Money talks, democracy walks, at least in today's America.
________

Our White Nationalist President has decided to nominate retired USMC General James N. Mattis for the position of Secretary of Defense. But some feel President Cheeto is getting more than he bargained for.

One can only hope.
________

The Atlantic with a series of photographs on "A Hidden American Anger." There's been a renewed interest in poor, white, rural America, and these photographs tell the tale of these forgotten communities.
________

An a Capella group re-imagines Hamilton...as the story of Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. You know you need this in your life.

H/T Brother Steve


The Past as Prologue

Sunday, December 4, 2016

Yesterday we watched our five-year-old niece for the day while her parents got their things moved into their new home. Over the course of the day, she reminded me of Moe so many ways.
She provides the soundtrack for her life. In a loud, joyful voice.

She's a crafty little kid. Yesterday our craft was a felt bee sewing kit. And I need to get over to Michael's and restock the craft box.

She can't fathom the idea that when she says "please" she still may not get what she wants, and is in fact shocked that one does not automatically follow the other.

She feels deeply for others. This may or may not grow into an instinct to protect those who cannot defend themselves as it did with Moe, but given her personality, I suspect it will.

Everything is just SO EXCITING. Yesterday, for example, she was going to have a more funnest day than ANYONE.

She's very bright. Extremely bright.
Sometimes these similarities cause a little lurch in my heart, as they remind me of what I've lost. But mostly they make me hopeful and happy. And for that I can be grateful.