Link Me Up, Scotty - Let's get the Hell out of here edition

Monday, January 30, 2017

I've signed up for the United State of Women. They're a nation-wide activist organization dedicated to a variety of things including promoting women in STEM, equality for the LGBTQ+ community, ending gender based violence, and more. I like that their message is positive, and that they're organized in a way that allows people to engage with the organization in whatever way they want, supporting whatever issues they care about.
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Turns out the President's promise about Mexico paying for his wall between the U.S. and Mexico was (gasp!) not true! Instead, you and I will pay for it in the form of new taxes on imported goods from Mexico. It also turns out that the project is statistically likely to be an epic fail in every way imaginable. And so it continues.
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Not to be left out, scientists are planning a march on Washington, too. This is a non-partisan effort, advocating for the responsible application of empirical science in government. Fact-based decision making - a cause I can get behind.
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From the "Liar, liar, pants on fire" files: The President's first week in office has been defined by false claims, inaccurate statements, and exaggerations. Is anyone else shocked by this turn of events? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
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Ken White over at Popehat gives some context to the daily announcements of our President's shenanigans. Hint: He's not the first President to indulge in said shenanigans.
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Part 1 of an analysis on the Patient Freedom Act (PFA) of 2017, a Republican proposed Bill to replace the ACA. 
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With all those gag orders being issued against Federal Agencies, the Free Speech specialists over at Popehat provide a quick cheat sheet on what is considered protected speech by Federal employees, and what isn't.
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The President's proposed immigration ban has an interesting aspect to it. Countries with business links to Trump aren't part of it. Shocked. Shocked I am by this selective "safety" screening.
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The President has reorganized the National Security Council, giving his white nationalist butt-monkey Stephen Bannon a place at the table, and removing the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Director of National Intelligence from the regular committee meetings unless issues relating to the Armed Forces are discussed. Because why would you want people with actual experience at the table, when you can have your personal, private, unqualified goon there?
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Immediately after the President issued his Executive Order regarding Muslim immigrants to the U.S., the ACLU and other organizations challenged the order in Court on the grounds that it violated the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the U.S. Constitution. The Judge issued a Stay on the order, so it will go to court to determine the Constitutionality of the Order. This particular win, while small and temporary, gives me hope and faith in our future. We can challenge (and win!) against an Administration with ill intent for our Republic.
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A day with the women scientists protesting Trump. These are my peeps.
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Today's Sources:
  • NPR: Mainstream Media source with minimal partisan bias which will soon lose its funding under our current president
  • Outside the Beltway: An online journal of politics and foreign affairs analysis written by a highly educated and ridiculously qualified staff. 
  • WaPo: Mainstream media source with minimal partisan bias
  • Popehat: A group blog about whatever its authors want. Often its authors want to talk about free speech, liberty, criminal justice, the legal system and its foibles, and related issues. But Popehat isn't a law blog, and what is published there isn't legal advice. They also like to talk about games and what you might call geek culture. 
  • SkepChick:  The Skepchick Network is a collection of smart and often sarcastic blogs focused on science and critical thinking.
  • Fortune International: Skews right but still a reliable source of news.  
  • American Civil Liberties Union: A charitable organization dedicated to working in courts, legislatures, and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and the laws of the United States guarantee everyone in this country.
  • The Atlantic: Skews left but still a reliable source of in-depth news

Retread: On Refugees, Risk, and the Value of Courage

Sunday, January 29, 2017

I wrote this in November 2015, and today seems like a good time for a reread. Now more than ever, we need to be courageous in the face of fear, and #actlikeanamerican. Original post with links may be found here.
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In the beginning, there was death, and also facts

November 18, 2015, Posted by Janiece at 10:00 AM

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.

Stressin' on Facebook

Friday, January 27, 2017
I have a new Facebook policy.

As I've mentioned before, I've been hiding people with reckless abandon since last Spring, because I really didn't want to be inundated with "all politics, all the time." Those people who never posted anything but political content were hidden, because damn. I don't consider Facebook a political news site, and I was weary of those people who did.

Once the election was over, I thought I'd unlock the content of those individuals I'd previously hidden.

Crap on a cracker, what a mistake.

So here's my new policy, put in place for my own self-care and stress management:

I recognize that people can post whatever they like on their own pages. Not my circus, not my monkeys. But I can choose to read whatever I like, and from now on, if you post the following crap, I will delegate you to the back porch of my Facebook house, where I don't have to look at what you choose to post.

1. If you think it's okay to disrespect an entire group of private citizens based on the behavior of one or two individuals, you're out. Examples: A conservative expresses a belief that women who terminate their pregnancies should go to jail, so you assume that all conservatives, everywhere, care more about a fetus than viable living children and so are heartless scumbags. You have no idea how all conservatives, everywhere, feel about that opinion. and I'm not interested in your ill-conceived conclusions. The same rule applies to everyone, conservative, liberal, or moderate.

2. If you think it's okay to re-post content from Facebook pages called "Conservatives are Fascists" or "Liberals are Hypocrites," then to the porch you go. Such sites do nothing but deliberately foment distrust, polarization, and anger between people of differing views. If you endorse such a site, I have no choice but to assume you also consider ALL conservatives to be fascists or ALL liberals to be hypocrites. I have friends and family on BOTH sides of the political spectrum, people I love and respect. Why the hell do I want to interact with you when you've just insulted me and the people I care about?

3. If you use terms like "libtard" or "sheeple" to attack the opposition, then really - your argument is forfeit and you're off to the porch. If you TRULY believe that hyper-partisanship is out of control and we should all be a little more respectful of the loyal opposition, then don't start the conversation with an ad hominen attack.

4. If you post articles from sources that are widely acknowledged to be utter garbage because of their hyper-partisan conspiracy theories, then we'll not be interacting on this forum. Think "Natural News," "Addicting Info," "Info Wars, or "Breitbart." There are plenty of fact-based journalists out there - on both sides of the aisle - without resorting to this trash.

And as always, if your content proves you to be a bigot, not only do you get the back porch, you get the boot. With extreme prejudice.

I'm sure there are people out there who are currently my friend or currently follow me who will take offense at these rules and unfollow me or unfriend me or whatever. That's fine. They have the right to manage their Facebook account however they see fit, just as I do. But I'm sick of being insulted, disrespected, and discounted because I'm liberal and that offends some people. And I'm sick of my friends and family members who are conservatives being insulted, disrespected, and discounted because they're conservative and that offends other people. People complain about the tenor of conversation on social media, and while I can't fix the internet, I have the power to fix my own little corner of it.

Link Me Up, Scotty - Eat My Crowd Size Edition

Thursday, January 26, 2017

Because I'm feeling more than a little distressed about events of the last week, here's an article describing how crowd scientists estimate the number of people who attended the President's inauguration compared to the number of people who attended the Women's March on Washington. Here's another from The Atlantic with an HD photographic fact-check.

Let me be clear. I don't give a good goddamn how many people attended the inauguration. I'm a little more interested in the Women's March because I had so many friends and acquaintances who went. What I'm really interested in is the truth. Lie in public? Be prepared to be fact-checked and called out. "Alt-facts" only stand if we let them.

NYT: Mainstream Media source with minimal partisan bias

The Atlantic: Skews left but still a reliable source of in-depth news
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Apparently the President's emotional immaturity is already causing his staff to leak information about his demeanor and reactions to criticism. I'm just going to leave that right there and let you draw your own conclusions.

WaPo: Mainstream media source with minimal partisan bias
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In light of the recent gag orders on several federal agencies, the Associated Press would like to remind everyone that there are ways to reach AP investigative reporters confidentially, including their Secure Drop Service.

Please note I am not advocating the use of this site - people have to make their own decisions about what's right and moral. This is simply an available avenue for those who decide that's what they want to do.

AP: Mainstream media source with minimal partisan bias
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Video of my Heart Part the First: The Netherlands have a message for our new President, in language he will understand:



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Video of my Heart Part the Second: MILCK sings "I Can't Keep Quiet" at the Women's March, along with some help from the GW Sirens. A one woman riot, indeed.


Political Hypocrisy

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

You know what I'm sick of? Hypocrisy in politics. I am sick to death of the hypocrisy in politics that stems from a two party system.

The reason I'm so sick of it is not necessarily because the opposing parties in Washington, D.C. are all big, fat, hypocrites. They are, demonstrably, but what bothers me more is the tendency of our polarized system to turn our citizen in hypocrites.

The majority of Americans who follow and opine on politics apply a double standard all the time. Hell, I've been guilty of it myself. Want some examples? Here you go:

In 2009, Senator Mitch McConnell sent a letter to Senator Harry Reid complaining that Republican leaders in the Senate had not had sufficient time to vet President Obama's Supreme Court nominations. In 2017, the exact same letter was returned to Senator McConnell, with only the names transposed. In both cases, partisan Americans decried the other sides' obstructionist behavior.

In 2009, when the Democratic administration pushed through the Affordable Care Act, Republicans complained - loudly - that they did not have input on the plan (even though it was a Republican plan to begin with). Now, in 2017, the shoe is on the other foot, and the Democrats are very worried and concerned that the Republican administration is about to do the same thing with a variety of legislation.

I could go on for days, but really - you get the idea. Democrats do something, Republicans howl, Republicans do the exact same thing, Democrats howl, etc. etc. ad nauseam.

And I am so, so tired of it. It's wildly, undeniably, horrifyingly hypocritical.

I'm so tired of it I'm considering calling people out on it when I see it, consequences be damned. As in, "Oh, you don't like it when liberals criticize and make rude remarks about President Trump? But it was okay for conservatives to hang President Obama in effigy, make racist remarks about him and his family, and accused him of being a foreign national? Then you, my dear, are a HYPOCRITE."

Or, "Oh, you think it's absolutely terrible that the conservatives are about to push through legislation of their choosing now that they have control of the House, the Senate, and the Oval Office? But it was perfectly okay for liberals to push through left leaning legislation when they had control over the House, the Senate, and the Oval Office? Then you, my friend, are a HYPOCRITE.

I'm not implying here that there are not substantial differences between the the liberal agenda and the conservative agenda. There are, big ones, and I know where I stand in relationship to those agendas. I'm going to continue to contact my Senators and Representatives whenever I see Congress about to pass legislation with which I disagree. I'm going to continue to support organizations that advocate for the things that are important to me. I'm going to continue to spread awareness and complain when the White House signs an executive order I don't agree with, or does something bone-headed that damages my country's reputation, or tears down peaceful diplomatic relationships with other countries for no discernible reason. It's my duty as an American. Just as it's the duty of every American. 

But I'm going to stop accusing conservatives of hypocrisy while giving liberals a hall pass on the same behavior. If you're spreading double-standards about politics, you're wrong. You're just wrong, whichever way your double-standard goes, and I'm going to make every effort to point it out, publicly, whenever I see it, on both sides of the aisle. Because we could all use a little more accountability in our public behavior. 

Link Me Up, Scotty - Critical Thought Edition

Monday, January 23, 2017

Popehat takes a look at how to be more discerning about accuracy when we read a news story - even a story from a source that has been reputable in the past.

Popehat: A group blog about whatever its authors want. Often its authors want to talk about free speech, liberty, criminal justice, the legal system and its foibles, and related issues. But Popehat isn't a law blog, and what is published there isn't legal advice. They also like to talk about games and what you might call geek culture.
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Yes, he's my President, and I do own his sorry ass in my capacity as a U.S. citizen. But as professional historian David remarks, he doesn't seem too interested in having me as his citizen. And so the fight begins. #rebelallianceforfreedom

4 Quarters, 10 Dimes: The personal blog of David, a History Professor who chooses not to use his last name on-line.
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Outside the Beltway analyzes "the most dreadful inaugural address in history." Please note that this description comes not from a liberal, but from a well-respected conservative writer. Time to gird our loins, fellow rebels.

Outside the Beltway: An online journal of politics and foreign affairs analysis written by a highly educated and ridiculously qualified staff.

(WaPo: Mainstream media source with minimal partisan bias)
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One of our favorite charities, The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, has teamed up with the National Shooting Sports Foundation in a first of its kind program to help reduce the number of gun suicides. We keep a number of firearms in the Big Brown House, and while our daughter did not take her life with a gun, I have known families where this was the case. If I was a believer, I would call this God's work.

H/T Sistah Stacey

AFSP: The leading national not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research, education and advocacy, and to reaching out to people with mental disorders and those impacted by suicide.
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The Atlantic with photographs of the Women's March from around the world. I wanted to attend very badly, but I get claustrophobia and anxiety in large groups, so I exercised some self-care and stayed home.

Thank you to my fellow humans who went and exercised their 1st Amendment rights so vociferously, and so peacefully. Not a single arrest was made in Washington D.C., and the reports I've read from around the country all speak to the civility of the marchers, the helpfulness and professionalism of the police, and the spirit of kindness that pervaded these events. Girlz rule.

(The Atlantic: Skews left but still a reliable source of in-depth news)
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Our regressive Republican controlled Congress is introducing a Bill that will revoke the U.S.' membership in the United Nations. To give you some context, they're calling it "The American Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2017," which makes me throw up in my mouth. I don't even know what to say about this, other than if they were really interested in "restoring" our "sovereignty," they'd allocate some money to an investigation of how Pootie & Company's interfered with our elections.

congress.gov: The official webpage of the United States Congress.
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ETA: I used to have a screen capture here from a fake Mike Pence Twitter account. Thanks to NeuronDoc for pointing out this "fake news" so I could remediate.

On Respect and the Women's March

Sunday, January 22, 2017

Unless you live under a rock, you're aware that the Women's March on Washington took place on Saturday, and that attendance was far larger than organizers estimated or hoped. Because I oppose the current administration, I strongly approve of this activity.

I have learned, however, that there are some liberal women out there being disrespectful of conservative women because they chose not to participate in the March. I also know that the reverse is true, that there are some conservative women who are being disrespectful of women who did choose to march. Specifically, they are attacking each others' feminist credentials, implying that THEIR brand of feminism is the "right" one, and the that people who don't believe as they do are "traitors" or some such bullshit.

Here's the thing. Feminism is not a contest. At it's core, it's about rights, choice and self-determination. If you believe women should have control over their own destinies, then you're a feminist, whether you choose to be a career woman, a stay at home parent, an activist, or choose to wear religious garb. If you believe that women should not have control over their destinies, that society, or the patriarchy, or other women should get to decide their fate, then you're not. In this respect, feminism really is a bipartisan issue, and it irks me when groups try to take control of the term to advance their own political agenda.

Let's all of us try to elevate the discourse, shall we? The Women's March was a peaceful, nationwide example of people exercising their 1st Amendment rights. This is what democracy looks like, and it doesn't deserve to be disrespected. If conservative women want to organize their own demonstration expressing their opposing ideas, then I firmly believe that their activities should ALSO be respected, provided that their event is ALSO conducted legally and peacefully.

Everyone agrees that the current polarization of our country needs to be addressed, but no one is interested in stopping their personal attacks long enough to criticize the ideas and not the individuals.
 
For example, when left-leaning citizens demonstrate and the event turns violent, conservatives should rightly point out that those INDIVIDUALS are not behaving appropriately. Not that "all liberals" are destructive and disrespectful of others' property. Conversely, when left-leaning citizens demonstrate peacefully and without incident and conservative citizens attack them them personally ANYWAY, then liberals should call out those conservative INDIVIDUALS for their hypocrisy. 
Some people are - and should be - judged upon the content of their character that they choose to display publicly. If they demonstrate a disregard for the truth, for the law, for other human beings, then I will judge them on those actions and label them appropriately. Our public servants absolutely should be judged this way, regardless of political affiliation. This is the price they pay for living a public life. Private citizens, however, are a different matter, and should be treated as such.

Hyper partisanship is a disease, a disease that our forefathers warned us about. If we want to change the political landscape and discourse, it must begin with examining our own beliefs and behaviors, and refusing to use a double standard in that examination. 

This past election season (and to be honest, the next four years) are really going to test both conservatives and liberals in this regard. Speaking for my little corner of the Internet, I pledge to make a concerted effort to condemn ideas rather than individuals, and to work to treat others with respect, even if our ideas are diametrically opposed. *

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*This last part is only within reason. People of good conscience can disagree about the role government should play in our lives and still remain respectful. But some behavior is just beyond the pale. If you're a Nazi sympathizer who believes that Germany should not have stopped until they got the job fully completed, then I'm going to judge you, harshly, and treat you with the disrespect that such opinions deserve.

Link Me Up, Scotty - The Power of Books Edition

Thursday, January 19, 2017

President Obama on the power of the written word, and how it has shaped his life and his Presidency. I cannot tell you how much I'm going to miss this President. Can you imagine our next president lamenting about how his duties has kept him from literature during his tenure? I cannot.

H/T Sistah Stacey

(NYT: Mainstream Media source with minimal partisan bias)
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The irrepressible Helen of Margaret and Helen on elitism and the upcoming inauguration of Donald Trump. I wonder if I will be so irrepressible when I am her age.

(Margaret and Helen: The personal blog of Helen Philpot and Margaret Schmechtman)
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Remembering the Selma march, and our own obligations to speak in the current era.

Popehat: A group blog about whatever its authors want. Often its authors want to talk about free speech, liberty, criminal justice, the legal system and its foibles, and related issues. But Popehat isn't a law blog, and what is published there isn't legal advice. They also like to talk about games and what you might call geek culture.
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An opinion piece by Richard Cohen of the Washington Post about the similarities between LBJ and the President Elect. Food for thought, because while Johnson was eventually considered one of the best domestic Presidents of the last century (while simultaneously being one of the worst foreign policy Presidents of that century), he accomplished what he did with his undeniable political skills and savvy. The President Elect has no such skills.

(WaPo: Mainstream media source with minimal partisan bias)
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Author John Scalzi on the end of the Obama years. This is largely how I feel about it myself, especially the part about President Obama being incredibly dignified, thoughtful, intelligent, serious, and a good and honorable man. When I was a younger person, I assumed that anyone who was voted into the Oval Office would naturally have these qualities. Time and disappointment has largely beaten that out of me, which is why I'm so very wistful to see him go.

Whatever: The personal blog of author John Scalzi
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Kroger, the largest U.S. supermarket chain, has decided to offer its transgender workers full healthcare benefits. I've been shopping there almost exclusively since I returned to Colorado in 1996, and this makes me happy and proud to have done so.

Forbes: A right-leaning business magazine with a high degree of accuracy.
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An interesting comparison of the President Elect to the past president he most resembles - Andrew Jackson.

Dallas News: A right-leaning Mainstream Media news source with a high degree of accuracy. 
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Shippie Jim Wright on the President's decision to give clemency to Chelsea Manning. Um, yes. Just so. The issue is not her status as a transwoman. The issue is her decision in choosing to forsake her oath. 

Stonekettle Station: The personal blog of author Jim Wright 

Link Me Up, Scotty - Intelligence Edition

Monday, January 16, 2017

My semi-celebrity platonic boyfriend Eric Garland on the issue of intelligence gathering and analysis in light of the recent Trump/Russia fiasco. I performed my military service during the Cold War. As such, I have a healthy respect for Russian shenanigans, and for the life of me, I just cannot understand why more long-term public servants aren't screaming from the rafters over these issues. Pootie did not just suddenly become our friend, y'all. No, seriously - he didn't.

Eric Garland: The personal website of futurist Eric Garland, Executive Director of Competitive Futures
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Professional historian and Smart Man David provides a view of what's in store for the American people over the next year. Or as he puts it, he's presenting "the crystal ball of suck, there for those who are willing to see it." Angels and ministers of grace, defend us.

4 Quarters, 10 Dimes: The personal blog of David, a History Professor who chooses not to use his last name on-line.
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Apparently our President-Elect is tapping a private equity investment firm executive with no military or government experience to be the Secretary of the Navy. I strongly, strongly believe in civilian control of the military. But couldn't we get some people to head up our Armed Forces who actually have a fucking clue instead of billionaire sycophants? I cannot TELL YOU how glad I am that the Smart Son is no longer on active duty. But I still worry about everyone else's smart sons and smart daughters. The crystal ball of suck, indeed.

 (WaPo: Mainstream media source with minimal partisan bias)
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Here's something to make your brain explode. Because I'm a giver like that.

John Lewis? Who is this John Lewis of whom you speak?

Because that's what Congressman John Lewis is known for - his complete lack of leadership, action, and results.

BOGGLE.

Also: John Lewis's books sold out after this. Schadenfreude, sometimes I love you.

@realDonaldTrump: The stream of consciousness Twitter feed of our President-Elect, proving that the best Republican President in history was oh-so-right: "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."- President Abraham Lincoln, rolling over in his grave and weeping for the Republic.
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As a counterpoint, Outside the Beltway's Steven L. Taylor has some comments on whether or not PEOTUS is "legitimate," and what that really means, anyway. TL:DR: He is legitimate, and liberals should be careful about throwing around such terms as a matter of public trust in our institutions. But he still feels Republicans are basically douchenozzles for attacking Representative Lewis' civil rights record:
The need to tear down John Lewis’ civil rights record is unseemly and unnecessary.  And Republicans/conservatives should look in the mirror and wonder why they are frequently considered to be racist given that their knee-jerk reaction when discussing persons involved in the civil rights movement seems to all too often be to denigrate and downplay, if not outright dismiss their contributions to change (as well as to basically minimize conditions in the US at the time and what needed to be done about them).
Outside the Beltway: An online journal of politics and foreign affairs analysis written by a highly educated and ridiculously qualified staff. 
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From the "misery loves company" files: Professional douche Martin Shkreli is pelted with poop at UC Davis during a protest against a planned event where professional shitbird Milo Yiannopoulos was to appear. The event was subsequently canceled, as are other events where professional shitbird Yiannopoulos is slated to appear, because their conservative sponsors cannot afford the extra security required to ensure no one gets hurt while he conducts his hate-mongering.

sfist: A website about San Francisco. I have confirmed all aspects of this story with WaPo except the poo-flinging. But I think the idea is funny, so I'm leaving it in with an accuracy caveat.
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My favorite Christian Pastor provides a list of 10 Acts of Resistance we can all engage in on January 20th. I myself have already committed to 1, 2, 5, 8, and 10, not just for the 20th, but for the duration of the crisis.

(Stuff That Needs to be Said: The personal blog of Pastor John Pavlovitz)
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Video of my Heart: Sharon Springs, NY farmer Jay Lavery dances through his chores in his barn at the Permaculture Inn. Let us make a joyful noise.


Link Me Up, Scotty - Vote Your Conscience Edition

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

TPM with a partial list of Congressional Representatives and their vote on whether or not to gut the Office of Congressional Ethics. Astonishingly enough, my own representative voted "no" on this execrable measure. Since I agree with Ken Buck (R-CO) on almost nothing, I was pleasantly surprised by this turn of events.

(Talking Points Memo: Left leaning Mainstream Media source)
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My favorite Christian Pastor on supporting those who are going through grief. This was very much my experience, as well. I don't remember very much from the first months after we lost our daughter, but what I do recall is the many people who loved and supported us, immediately after her death, and for years after. These are the ties that bind, from the kind people at her Credit Union and the DMV, to the complete strangers on the internet who shared their condolences and their experiences, and from our family and friends who are family who made sure we had the support we needed in that first, terrible year.

(Stuff That Needs to be Said: The personal blog of Pastor John Pavlovitz)
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Little kids with their giant doggie companions. How can you not love these images?

(Bored Panda: Crowd-sourced website focusing on art and culture)
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Tree Lobsters takes on the President-Elect's cabinet picks. Hee.

Tree Lobsters: A webcomic. 
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The Atlantic: Americans at Work series looks at elder care in Massachusetts, including the effort required to coordinate required services for elders as they become less able to care for their daily tasks.

(The Atlantic: Skews left but still a reliable source of in-depth news)
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The President of the United States gives his farewell address. He came into office on a wave of hope, and in his departure, he attempted to regenerate that hope.

I will miss this first family. Not only because I thought President Obama was a good president, but because (as Michelle said) "When they go low, we go high." Enjoy your new life, Obama family - you've earned some peace in your lives.

(NYT: Mainstream Media source with minimal partisan bias)

Link Me Up, Scotty - Goodbye and Good Riddance Edition

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

My favorite Christian Pastor on the reality of a Trump presidency. The bottom line: We all lost, without exception, unless you're incredibly wealthy, white, and male.

(Stuff That Needs to be Said: The personal blog of Pastor John Pavlovitz)
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The hilarious Kristina Kuzmic takes on New Year's resolutions in a new way. I kind of love this idea, and am considering doing it myself. Maybe on Twitter - there's always a need to be more positive on Twitter.

(LittleThings: LittleThings publishes engaging, meaningful content for women across generations.)
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John Scalzi on the moral arc of the universe, and our responsibility in that system.

(Whatever: The personal blog of author John Scalzi)
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The Atlantic with a photo essay of what it means to choose to become an American. A good reminder for those of us who may take our citizenship for granted. Also, there's something in my eye.
  
(The Atlantic: Skews left but still a reliable source of in-depth news)
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A Chicago bakery sees opportunity where others see fear, and improves his business by recruiting and hiring war refugees. These people are wonderful human resources, many highly educated and very motivated to find jobs with a living wage. Companies that give in to fear on this score are surrendering a competitive advantage.

H/T Steve

(NPR: Mainstream Media source with minimal partisan bias)

My Reasons for Gratitude, 2016

Sunday, January 1, 2017

1. I read 139 books this year, across all media. That's a lot of books, even for me, and well worth the time it took to read them.

2. I was reappointed to another three year term on the Douglas County Library Board of Trustees. This is work that is sometimes frustrating, but incredibly rewarding.

3. We had a wonderful vacation in Europe visiting Spain, Greece, France, Italy, Croatia, and Montenegro. Bonus wonderful: I traveled with some of my favorite people on the planet.

4. We got to spend the holidays with Sistah Stacey and Brother JR.

5. We had a lovely visit with the Smart Man's birth family, which put a smile on my face and a song in my heart.

6. My brother-in-law and his family moved to Colorado, giving us the opportunity to spend more time together, and to watch our niece grow. Note: Our niece knows what the word "hypothesis" means and can express her own hypothesis clearly. She's five.

7. I remained employed during an unstable time.

8. I recommitted to my health and fitness.

9. We've continued to make progress in managing our grief at the loss of some of our nearest and dearest.

10. The Smart Man and I have continued to support each other for another trip around the sun. I have now spent half my adult life with him, and I couldn't ask for a better partner and friend.

Let's hope for a 2017 which includes many more things for which I can be grateful.