Link Me Up, Scotty - Embrace Reality after Denying It Edition

My shippie Jim Wright discusses the resolution of the George Zimmerman trial, and how our society has lost sight of the key outcome in this case - that a 17-year-old kid is dead.
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Freeze-dried Fruit Cup and Professional Scary Former Congressman Allen West leaves us with this little gem as it relates to being a black man in America: “I am a black male who grew up in the inner city of Atlanta and no one ever followed me in a mall. I don’t recall any doors clicking when I crossed the street. And I never had anyone clutching their handbag when I got on an elevator. I guess having two awesome parents who taught me to be a respectful young man paid dividends.” Sigh. Mr. West has yet to meet a logical fallacy he has not embraced wholeheartedly and with vigor in support of the whacky. What a tool. H/T Skepchick.
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So it turns out the Polar Ice Cap formally known as the North Pole can now be referred to as "Lake North Pole." But please, climate change deniers, just keep sticking your fingers in your ears and singing "lalala." Because nothing says "mature, reasoned discourse" like blatantly denying verifiable facts in service to your economically driven delusions. H/T everyone.
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In spite of my stabby list of things about middle age that blow big chunks, there's a lot to be said for this time of life. It's affording me a freedom that I seldom experienced in my physical prime, and is detailed exquisitely in this essay about Life After 50. The money quote: "What are you doing these days 'for the sheer joy of it?' I hope a lot." H/T Sista Stacey.
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The Incomparable Carolyn has pointed me to an incredible Etsy shop called Megan Lee Studio. She makes science and education based art, and I could spend some serious-ass money up in there, in addition to lining her pocket in the service of performing random acts of kindness. Here's my first purchase, hopefully the first of many, destined for the wall of my office space.

She had me at "Hopper."
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Jef with One F is thinking about how to talk about sex with his daughter as a parent living in Texas. He did some research into the Purity Movement as part of his preparation, which makes this the money quote: "I'm a dad, and I am perfectly aware that the sexual health of this child is going to be part of my job. I'm not looking forward to it, to tell the truth, but if the alternative is fetishizing chastity while giving Oedipus a handie then by God I'm going in full guns blazing." A courageous dad, and a lucky daughter. H/T Skepchick.

Stabby Monday

H/T Thorvaaldr, who knows me so well.

Because who the hell needs another Miscellaneous Monday when there's so much to be stabby about?
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You know, I tend to be rather conservative when it comes to change. I just don't care much for it as a general rule, and I tend to arrange my life around that preference. But I don't intentionally sabotage the efforts of those around me because they choose to do things differently than me. In spite of my conservatism, I recognize that change is sometimes good. And there are certain people in my life who need to quit being whiny bitches and accept that "because we've always done things this way" is not an acceptable reason for refusing to change.
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This "being middle-aged" thing fucking blows. My plumbing is a mess. I've recently developed a tendency to become dizzy and light-headed. I can't sleep through the night to save my life. AND WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON WITH MY NECK? No, seriously, WHAT THE FUCK?

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Remember how I worked my ass off in order to live a courageous life? This is why people who lack moral courage, either personally or professionally, drive me insane. It's not that I think they can't be decent human beings, or make meaningful and long-lasting contributions to our society. They can. But I sure don't want them at my back when the chips are down. If, as the Incomparable Anne notes, courage is the key to living a non-meh life, then having courageous friends and colleagues is the key to having non-meh relationships.
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You know how I mentioned that I was recently accepted to Colorado State University for the Fall term? Well, prior to deciding on CSU, I was looking into several other on-line Universities, and CRAP ON A CRACKER, THESE PEOPLE NEED A RESTRAINING ORDER. Seriously, they're stalking me via phone, via text, via e:mail. And they won't give up. Even if I was inclined to apply to their programs, their desperation would give me pause. Are you listening, Rasmussen College? You're like a bad boyfriend who can't take a hint.
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We've been on the Federal Do Not Call list for many, many years. That doesn't prevent people from calling us, however, each and every day of the week, in order to sell their wares. What the hell is the point of the law if it's not enforced?
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There are a great many people who should just not have children. Seriously. If you're this couple, or this woman, please, do us all a favor and get yourself sterilized before it's too late. THINK OF THE CHILDREN.

The Weekly List - Housecleaning my mind

1. When I choose an action, I choose the consequence of that action. And this rule applies to everyone else, too.

2. Even if I know someone to be a horrible human being, even if I know their shortcomings are demonstrable and beyond dispute, I still cannot expect others to share my opinion of them, especially if I have chosen not to share all the facts about how I have formed my opinion. People have the right to make up their own minds.

3. People aren't perfect. And love doesn't require them to be.

4. Again, I am not the only competent person in the room.

5. The reason I get so wrapped around the axle about my personal relationships is because my personal relationships are critically important to me. If I didn't care about the people I choose to share my life, they wouldn't have the power to hurt me so.

6. Expecting others to recognize my virtues is not admirable. It should be enough that I continue to work on being a better person for my own sake.

7. It's hard not to compare myself to others, but I need to concentrate on health and fitness, not weight.

8. While it's true that Information Technology is kind of a life-force sucking endeavor, it's the industry I've chosen, and pays the bills with room to spare. It behooves me to remember this truth. 

9. Relative to item 4, it's not my responsibility to solve other people's problems. People have agency, and are capable of managing their own business.

10. While being used fills me alternately with impotent rage and regret that I didn't see it coming, the responsibility for the bad behavior does not in fact lie with me, and I need to remember that.

Free Shit Friday - Raspberry Jalapeño Jam

Today's Free Shit Friday offering is jar of my new Raspberry Jalapeño Jam. This is another new recipe for me, so whoever wins must provide some feedback on whether or not I should keep it in rotation.

da Rules. 

The winner of the Peach Ginger jam is Sista Stacey, with a random number of 10. Enjoy! 

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7/29/2013: ETA: I tried this yesterday with cream cheese and tortilla chips. Heavenly, and not hot at all.

Link me up, Scotty - Living in a Civilized World Edition

Steve Buchheit explains why denying public employees their pensions in the name of "saving money" makes you a big, fat hypocrite (and an immoral asshole).

This is why I love The Bloggess so very, very much. I don't understand the hoopla about the new royal baby, either. He's a baby. And I can assure you he's soiling his diapers just like every other baby in the history of the world.

I've long thought football was barbaric and risky. Now Malcolm Gladwell is stepping up his campaign to ban football from colleges, and I'm cheering him on from the sidelines. Go, Malcolm!

Fourteen-year-old Tuesday Cain explains why adults should act like, you know, adults, and manages to shame her detractors in a most satisfactory way.

Miscellaneous Monday

I Read the Book

The Summer Reading Program is in full swing. A month in, and we've read 184 books for the contest, with over a month to go until it's over. It appears we're going to make it to the full donation amount this year, for the first year ever. Keep reading, bibliophiles!

I've been trying to do my own part, as well - I've read twelve titles since the program started, and I'm working to finish as many as I can before Labor Day. I've been digging spending so much time reading, but the other thing is that school begins this Fall, and I'll have less time for leisure reading once that ship sails. I'm surprised at how much I'm looking forward to going back, actually, in spite of sacrificing my leisure reading to do so. And in other news, I kind of wish I'd studied to be a virologist instead of an engineer.

Trust in Me

I'm getting old. Aside from the many, many bodily indicators that this is the case (Knee pain! Chronic insomnia! Slower metabolism! Rosacea!), I find there are certain virtues I value more now that fifty is approaching like an oncoming locomotive. Chief among these, I think, is whether or not an individual (or an organization) is reliable. Do they do what they say they're going to do? Do they communicate when circumstances prevent them from doing so? Can I trust them not to leave me hanging, not to behave badly, not to do the wrong thing? Reliability breeds trust. Being unreliable breeds distrust. And I'm pretty much through with wasting my time on people I can't trust. Because I'm old.

Smooth Criminal

Last night's insomnia included an earworm of Smooth Criminal by the Glee cast members Naya Rivera and Grant Gustin along with 2cellos. I've decided to share this with my loyal readership, because that's just how I roll.

The Weekly List - Why people fucking SUCK.

1. We occasionally have such a failure of compassion and a vilification of the other that we commit genocide.

2. There are segments of humanity who think rape is a perfectly acceptable behavior.

3. We victimize the weakest among us.

4. We use our religious beliefs as justification to deprive one another of our rights, our dignity, our lives. 

5. We manipulate the greatest scientific achievements of our species so that we may destroy each other more efficiently. 

6. We have an unbearable need to control one another's lives, even when their actions have no bearing on our own lives or the net good of the world.

7. We can easily ignore the suffering of others.

8. We routinely lie to ourselves about who we really are.

9. We have a tendency toward willful ignorance.

10. We're mean to animals. And to each other.