Random Thoughts and Rules to Live By, Part 16

When someone says, "Well, you know what I mean," it often translates into "I'm being racist/douchey/hypercritical/judgey, but I don't want you to call me on it, so I'll pretend I'm not and will expect you to play along in order to keep the peace." However, I'm not obligated to stay silent, regardless of what others think, and the older I get, the less likely I am to do so. 

Link Me Up, Scotty - What a Mensch Edition

Chobani CEO Hamdi Ulukaya proves that being a successful businessman doesn't mean you have to be a big, fat, douche. In fact, you can be a mensch and still rake in enough dough to last several lifetimes.
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Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green is a physicist trying to treat cancer with - I shit you not - laser activated nano-particles. I've worked in STEM my entire adult life, and I still gape with awe at what humans can accomplish with the powers of our minds. Amazing.
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There's a high school deep inside the JFK Airport in New York City, where kids can learn practical skills. This is SO COOL. 
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Outside the Beltway on Democracy, Demagogues and Populist Pandering. I need to try and do a better job of seeing things from the point of view of the angry, white working poor, and it behooves me to keep this in mind when I'm feeling particular judgey about Trump supporters.
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Fellow UCFer Tom takes on basic civics, a topic on which many people need a refresher.
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Traps that turn Atheists into Atheist Assholes.
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A fascinating photo project superimposing images of the London Blitz on photos of the modern day city.
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Video of the Week: In Paris, they're installed "doors" to other European cities.

H/T Kathee

America the Beautiful

Loving America these days is like being in a relationship with an abusive boyfriend. As a private citizen, it doesn't matter how hard you try, how much you love your country, every once in a while it's going to turn around and punch you in the head.

Donald Trump is the presumptive Republican candidate for President. Donald Trump. The Trumpsicle. The man who has single-handedly brought the tone of American politics down to a level I never thought I'd see in my lifetime. A self-avowed misogynist and bigot. A hypocrite of the highest order, who touts his business success, while having no less than four bankruptcies in his business holdings. A classless goon, who urged his half-witted followers to physical violence in support of their candidate. He's tone-deaf, entitled, privileged, and rude. And most importantly, he's completely and utterly unqualified to hold the office of the President of the Untied States.

And he's the presumptive Republican candidate for the Presidency.

It's my opinion that this coup is exactly what the Republican Party has earned and deserves. They let the whackadoos and the bigots run away with their party, and this is the natural outcome. They sowed, and this is what they're reaping. The Tea Party idiots and bigoted scared white dudes brought them to this impasse, and I have no sympathy for them. Boo-hoo, you're now the party of unserious ass-clowns. You did it to yourselves, with your updated Southern strategy and appealing to the lowest common denominator.

Unfortunately, that leaves the rest of us a paucity of choices when it comes to the leader of free world.

I know a lot of people feel as strongly about Hillary Clinton as I do about Donald Trump. Some of these concerns are legitimate in my opinion, but many of them are the direct result of a concerted smear campaign by the Republicans that has lasted decades. People have the right to vote as their conscious dictates, and many people really, really don't want to vote for Hillary. I get that.

But at least she's a serious candidate. She's qualified. She understands international diplomacy. She has policy positions, and members on staff who are experts in their field, not inchoate ramblings about how "great" she's going to be.

For me, most presidential elections are a matter of holding my nose and selecting the candidate that makes me want to vomit the least. I've already made my decision, and it's a pretty safe bet that I'm going to judge harshly any citizen who chooses to hand the reins of our Republic over to Donald Trump. It says something about us, something that doesn't bear a close examination, that so many Americans think this is the best we can do on the world stage.

Populism makes my teeth hurt. Angels and Ministers of Grace, defend us.

Random Thoughts and Rules to Live By, Part 15

When I see older adults struggling with illness and injury, and I know they've not done the work necessary to ensure they entered their senior years as strong and flexible as possible, I feel sorry for them, because I know it didn't have to be that way. And then I go back to the gym.

Random Thoughts and Rules to Live By, Part 14

Chronic, professional lateness is disrespectful. It implies that the tardy person believes their time is far more valuable than mine, and they don't mind if I waste some of this very limited resource waiting on them, instead of being productive. 

Link Me Up, Scotty - Mansplaining Edition

A statistician talks about how men automatically assume she is unqualified to discuss statistics. And then mansplain how she's wrong to assume they're mansplaining. Angels and ministers of grace, defend us.
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On what it means to be middle class in America. While the Smart Man and I are financially secure now, there were many years where I did not meet the "$400 emergency" criteria. and I remember it like it was burned into my brain with a blow torch.
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Freddy Mercury's voice is unique among rock singers, and now we know why. What an amazing talent.
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There's a suicide prevention and mental health bill in the Senate right now that needs our support. Please consider e:mailing your Senator to help make this bill a law.

H/T Sister Stacey
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How to say "no" with grace. I could learn from this author. I'm much better at saying "no" these days, but sometimes it comes out a bit harsher than I'd wish, as in, "I'm not doing that. Stop asking me." Of course, I'm only that abrupt when someone won't take my gentler "no" for an answer. Because remember kids, when people won't take no for an answer, they're trying to control you.

H/T Lynne
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I love this idea, at least for part of the year. A vacation home on the water!

H/T Tempest
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A fascinating description of what it's like to be aphantashic. This is a Facebook Note, so I apologize to those without a Facebook account.

H/T Sister Carolyn
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Harriet Tubman was a complete and utter bad ass, worthy of our respect and admiration. A true hero, and a fine choice for the first woman to grace our paper currency.

H/T Brother Juan

Link Me Up, Scotty - Science and Engineering Edition

Wil Wheaton on how art can inspire science, technology, engineering, and mathematics students to achieve great things. STEAM is the bomb-diggity, y'all. 
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Your neighbors, the invisible microbes that are unique to your community.
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Retired Marine Staff Sergent Tim Chambers holds a salute for over 3 hours in respect for the Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom. He's done it every year since 2006, but this year, he completed his task with a shattered right wrist. Semper Fi, Marine.
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Why it's still a struggle to put women in space. Women (and men) have been advocating for gender diversity in space travel since before the Apollo program, and yet...here we still are.
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Queen Elizabeth is 90 years old, the longest reigning monarch in British history. Her life in pictures.
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Why do so many Inuit die from suicide in Greenland? Loss of community, family ties, and the disruption of traditional ways of life lead to isolation, despair, and a lack of emotional resiliency. Also? Atsa Schmidt is my new hero.
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From the "be careful what you wish for" files: An autistic adult obtains emotional awareness through cutting edge medical treatment, with mixed results.
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From the Mighty Girl Files: This female Indian wrestler is the Bomb-Diggity, and so is her husband.
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NPR reports on the very strange world of Nepal's child Goddess. Moral: People are odd.
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Video of my Heart: AntiVaxx parents take a ride on the Magic School Bus.

H/T Brother Paul