G+ Migration Blog

http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/31/health/zika-shrinks-mice-testicles/ Also, finally a use for having seen Notting Hill (relevant scene at 1:30 in through about 1:38): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUjIYX9IAYs   Or, if you prefer, just the quote: "Just going to the kitchen to get some food, then I'm going to tell you a story that will make your balls shrink to the size of raisins." http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/31/health/zika-shrinks-mice-testicles

Welcome back, you horrifying disease complication that was considered quaint trivia in med school in the 90's. My opinion on this is not equivocal: vaccinate against measles. It isn't only your child who may die years later because you didn't vaccinate them, it is other people's children who may have been too young or otherwise ill to receive the vaccine. SSPE is 100% fatal. NB: It used to be taught that SSPE occurred more frequently in males than females. I do not know if the new information on frequency of occurrence included data that may have updated that information, as well. http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/health/ct-measles-complication-more-common-than-thought-20161031-story.html http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/health/ct-measles-complication-more-common-than-thought-20161031-story.html

Documenting for my own sanity. Mom now says she hates the bed and didn't want it anyway and they bought it because Dad wanted it and it was for his back but it turned out it wasn't the bed he had a real back problem. 1. She wanted a new bed. She pushed it while Dad said no. He caved, so yeah, at some point when she pressured him into going and looking he expressed a preference. She wanted a new bed so she could give theirs to her brother. 2. The timing of getting a new bed versus his medical back issues is not consistent with her recollections that the new bed was for Dad's back. 3. It occurs to me that it is possible Dad is sleeping further into the center of the bed than he once did because it is a squishy edged bed that really has no edge and you slide off it, or rather it slides out from under you, unless you are at least 4 inches away from the edge. Which takes out a fair bit of real estate, really, if you both need to be 4 inches closer to the center of the bed. She a...

Apparently, insurance companies can decide what health insurance you should have without telling you.  Who EVER thought that was something that should be ok?! https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/medicare-bars-new-insurers-from-seamless-conversion-of-seniors-coverage/2016/10/27/89add04c-9af6-11e6-a0ed-ab0774c1eaa5_story.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/medicare-bars-new-insurers-from-seamless-conversion-of-seniors-coverage/2016/10/27/89add04c-9af6-11e6-a0ed-ab0774c1eaa5_story.html

Google Doodle - educating the public. I didn't see this one, but maybe they didn't show it here. They should have, all you hear about is Florence Nightingale, founder of nursing. I wonder if there were women of color who helped during the Civil War whose names have been erased from history? Bits of info in each link: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/1974699/mary-seacole-google-doodle-crimean-war-heroine/ http://www.wired.co.uk/article/google-doodle-mary-seacole http://mashable.com/2016/10/14/google-doodle-mary-seacole/#AHdALtoTTiqd https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/1974699/mary-seacole-google-doodle-crimean-war-heroine

- locked - Of course. Because living with the emotionally ill who deny their illness is insane. My mom gets exceptionally lucky (thus far) and is not now blind in one eye, or gods forbid lacking an eye altogether. She is told to behave like a post-op patient and given instructions by the doctor and has been complaining since the accident happened that this is just going to ruin her attempts to catch up with things today and tomorrow. Let it the fuck go, Bridget. Oh, and in spite of the fact that she uses sitting in front of the television as her way of relaxing the rest of the time, now it is boring and she is bored. Meanwhile, I see her bending over and fussing at running the dishwasher and remind her she's not supposed to do that stuff and I  was going to take care of things for a couple days so she could rest and take care of her eye (and face, and head, and back, and neck, and hand - did I mention she fell out of bed?). This is her response: She throws the partially open packet...

That was fun. Woke up this morning to the sound of a thud and whimpering. Mom has achieved item x in a series y of old people things. To wit, falling out of bed and smacking your eye on the corner of the bedside table. She will be seeing the on-call eye doc at their office at 11 am. She looks like she lost 13 rounds at Caesars in Vegas.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA. My SIL just emailed everyone that she, my brother, and my nephew are going to be here Dec 22-Jan 1. While it is remotely possible she discussed this with my mother previously it is just as possible she did not. Thanks to you guys, I will not be here Dec 29 - Jan 2. The related euphoria will completely obviate the need for any alcohol. Runs off, cackling madly.

I will have trouble verbalizing this. Maybe I will try to write something more coherent later. I just spent a day in a combination of the Dust Bowl/Depression and Dickensian England. Wth, America? This doesn't happen overnight; this takes decades. I was not in one of the big cities where people expect (and have become numb to) this. I was not in Appalachia. I have been in both of those places in many varieties and it was just not such an utterly wretched pit of despair. It's horrible. The cumulative effect of having been in much of Pennsylvania over the last 3 years for various reasons just leaves me aghast at the hopeless, post-apocalyptic misery in which we are apparently ok with just leaving some people. And yet, a measurable number of them are voting for HIllary. I really have a hard time describing what I saw today, and not just, you know "saw". I mean, I was talking to people. It's disgusting. It's disgusting that we are at all ok with this. The dogs we...

The baseball is killing me.

Oh, and in the category of "stupid things heard about this election" we have the npr interview with a (female) Bernie supporter who remains undecided. She wants someone to tell her why she should vote for Hillary without mentioning Trump or the Supreme Court. I am fine with the not mentioning Trump. I could even give a couple of other reasons before mentioning it, but how do you not mention the Court? It's one of the 3 branches of government, it's absolutely critical and affects laws and governance in this country just as much as Congress. It is the only branch for which we do not vote, and while we vote for Congress, we vote for a tiny piece of it. At least voting for the President is a vote for that whole branch and while Congress has more to say about it, the President sends over the SCOTUS nominees. Do people just really not understand how this country is governed at all? I mean, you'd think any Bernie supporter who wanted radical social change of any kind, wh...

Soooo, I'm supposed to go Harassing for Hillary tomorrow in Pennsylvania. I am both feeling like it is more important, and about to be a terribly depressing experience. It's not really useful to respond to people about stupid email server choices with, "I am sick of hearing about the stupid emails."

- much locked - I can't even with my mom. She really needs to figure out how to express herself and deal with her inner whatever better. Dad actually got some decent news today for once at the doctor, so he's kinda feeling buoyed. I mean, he knows and so do we that that is just momentary, but when you haven't got much, hey, if you can feel good at all, you do it when you can. My mother is frustrated and annoyed. I think we've all figured out by now that this isn't going to be quick, and it isn't going to be a steady, linear thing. So figure out how to cope with it, on your own or with help but figure it out. Meanwhile, she is being bitter, nasty, touchy, and awful. I know it doesn't help that she lost one of her hearing aids Sunday, and they are crazy expensive, but come on. That's nobody's fault, and stop being mean to everybody, Listening to her I'd swear she resents my father for not dying.

Sounds like a challenging but worthwhile read. http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-37770363 http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-37770363

This guy is a total character and a fixture in Vancouver. I guess he's getting sued, yet again, by Trader Joe's. Thing is, he pays full retail in Washington state (or I guess now he has teams of secret shoppers 'cuz he got busted by TJs?), and unless his mark-up has gotten a lot higher, it's still competitive with any comparable grocery (obs not discount places like No Frills or Real Canadian Superstore) in Vancouver. It's latest location is a little out of the way but the hours are accessible, and he only brings in products that are legally allowed to cross the border. Trader Joe's is seemingly never planning on opening in Canada, and they are so ok with people driving across the border to shop there that they have pre-printed lists of what it is and is not ok to take back across the border into Canada * . I'm sure they want to control the brand, but there are so many people in Vancouver without cars or a way to get all the way to Bellingham, at least not r...

Trigger warnings, violence and rape against women and children. My first reaction to this is an expletive. My second is that while I absolutely do not want to be all we're so superior because we're living in the 21st century, it's NO all the way down. Iow, I recognize that things like the brother marrying a woman if her husband dies to provide for the family is a part of our historical culture, as well. Go read the old testament. Certainly there it was intended as a protection. That was how many thousand years ago? Meanwhile, people continue to do these things without thinking about the harm they probably always did and they exploit them, even if they know there are more modern customs, behaviors, and options. It's mind boggling to me that we've managed to get as far as we have insofar as treatment and regard of women is concerned. Bloody hell. http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-37431005 http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-37431005

Is 2008 far enough to be way back? It's a little preachy but I like the tune and the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ugkain3QUg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ugkain3QUg

Racoon dogs are cute and all, but apparently some people are keeping them as pets?! This does not sound like a good idea, it really doesn't. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3791586/Dog-owner-worried-people-treat-missing-pet-wild-animal-looks-like-RACCOON.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raccoon_dog http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3791586/Dog-owner-worried-people-treat-missing-pet-wild-animal-looks-like-RACCOON.html

Awww. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/10/18/national/rare-white-raccoon-dog-caught/#.VgTZJhFViko http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/10/18/national/rare-white-raccoon-dog-caught/#.VgTZJhFViko

Oopsie. http://www.businessinsider.com/millennium-tower-san-francisco-tilting-sinking-2016-10 http://www.businessinsider.com/millennium-tower-san-francisco-tilting-sinking-2016-10

Good lord, San Francisco, your ballot initiatives. (The second link has info on multiple initiatives, including the one touched on in the first link.) http://boingboing.net/2016/10/15/billionaire-tech-investors-bac.html http://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Big-mix-of-ballot-measures-seeks-answers-to-9973076.php http://boingboing.net/2016/10/15/billionaire-tech-investors-bac.html

We are into the days of gray and I think it bothers me more each year.

This is great. http://www.rollingstone.com/tv/news/watch-john-oliver-taunt-donald-trump-with-emmy-award-w446460 http://www.rollingstone.com/tv/news/watch-john-oliver-taunt-donald-trump-with-emmy-award-w446460

Final cute of the day: http://i.imgur.com/tqpDY.jpg http://i.imgur.com/tqpDY.jpg

Almost certainly unhealthy for the chinchilla, but adorable. http://imgur.com/gallery/yc4HdHJ

They had me interested up to the last paragraph. I think they are wishful thinking that conclusion. Anyone that wealthy and disconnected can afford the healthcare if they get sick, which is probably offset by their access to better resources in multiple other ways anyhow, and I assure you that there are people trying to develop ways to live forever. If anyone does, it will probably be expensive and the rich win again, Lews Therin. They don't need to pay quite as much attention. Human beings are a practically inexhaustible resource and totally interchangeable for enough money. The rest of us are probably more bothered because we'd prefer not to be extras in Fritz Lang's Metropolis . http://qz.com/816188/science-shows-the-richer-you-get-the-less-you-pay-attention-to-other-people/ http://qz.com/816188/science-shows-the-richer-you-get-the-less-you-pay-attention-to-other-people

Surprise. http://cen.acs.org/articles/94/i42/Deep-divisions-impede-House-Science.html http://cen.acs.org/articles/94/i42/Deep-divisions-impede-House-Science.html

Cool. http://www.livescience.com/56615-coral-twilight-zone-reveals-weird-photosynthesis.html http://www.livescience.com/56615-coral-twilight-zone-reveals-weird-photosynthesis.html

A new book? Interesting. http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2016/10/24/game-of-thrones-the-science-of-wildfire/ http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2016/10/24/game-of-thrones-the-science-of-wildfire

I don't know how complete this is, but it's interesting to note how many times libraries and books have been destroyed by people, and why. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_destroyed_libraries https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_destroyed_libraries

Other old libraries you can visit. http://flavorwire.com/573078/the-oldest-libraries-around-the-world/11 http://flavorwire.com/573078/the-oldest-libraries-around-the-world/11

More about the library in Morocco. P.S. You can thank two women for this. http://www.businessinsider.com/inside-al-qarawiyyin-the-oldest-library-in-the-world-2016-6/#the-al-qarawiyyin-university-library-and-mosque-were-founded-by-fatima-el-fihriya-in-859--around-the-time-early-forms-of-algebra-were-being-invented-1 http://www.businessinsider.com/inside-al-qarawiyyin-the-oldest-library-in-the-world-2016-6/#the-al-qarawiyyin-university-library-and-mosque-were-founded-by-fatima-el-fihriya-in-859--around-the-time-early-forms-of-algebra-were-being-invented-1

Warning: harsh and triggering violence against women. I just want to recognize the women who are fighting this all over South America. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/20/argentina-women-south-america-marches-violence-ni-una-menos https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/20/argentina-women-south-america-marches-violence-ni-una-menos

Cool. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/ninth-century-library-goes-digital-to-reach-wider-audience/3232108.html http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/ninth-century-library-goes-digital-to-reach-wider-audience/3232108.html

It's still World Polio Day. http://www.africanews.com/2016/10/24/today-is-world-polio-day-nigeria-still-africa-s-only-victim/

We get Trump, they get pastry. http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-37753611 http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-37753611

I have no idea why this is a particularly appealing spot for territory marking. http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-37751168 http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-37751168

Someone linked to this elsewhere and I didn't want to rant all over their thread, so here you go. https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2016/10/21/how-fascist-is-donald-trump-theres-actually-a-formula-for-that/?utm_term=.07a5ddc06a22 I super disagree with this guy, especially about the violence issues. Firstly, I think he is not confining himself entirely to the paths up to but preceding the election/anointing of The Leaders in this case. Secondly, you compare the behavior within the cultural context to which it belongs. If he's hyper-nationalist for America, he's hyper-nationalist. (+2 more Benitos) Thirdly, there may be no official affiliation between Trump and the KKK and the neo-Nazis and others, but I have news for the professor, they wear uniforms. Many of the white supremacist crowd likes to dress up in military or paramilitary garb and weaponry. And some of them use it on other people. (+1 more Benito) The most grossly egregious (it's huuuuge) mistake...

YES! YESYESYESYESYESYESYESYES YES!

What a real revolutionary looks like. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37740382 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37740382

I just like the last line: "In a relatively short time we've taken a system built to resist destruction by nuclear weapons and made it vulnerable to toasters," http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-37738823 http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-37738823

"May this story always remind you of the impact one small, loving gesture can have." http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2016/10/21/winnie-the-pooh-birthday http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2016/10/21/winnie-the-pooh-birthday

This is totally awesome, you should listen to it just to hear her. She's completely with it! http://www.npr.org/2016/10/21/498853331/101-year-old-chicago-cubs-fan-hopes-beloved-team-grants-her-birthday-wish http://www.npr.org/2016/10/21/498853331/101-year-old-chicago-cubs-fan-hopes-beloved-team-grants-her-birthday-wish

Oh, boy. Not good. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/21/eu-canada-ceta-trade-deal-meltdown-canadian-minister-walks-out https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/21/eu-canada-ceta-trade-deal-meltdown-canadian-minister-walks-out

The UN appointed Wonder Woman as honorary ambassador for the empowerment of women and girls, today. Oops. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-37734623 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-37734623

If you're interested you can apparently put your hat in the ring name in the, uh, virtual thingy for a chance to ride on the Hillary Clinton campaign plane. Well, you and a buddy. Have to put your name in before midnight the 22nd, though.   https://www.hillaryclinton.com/forms/plane-contest/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=fb&utm_campaign=20161019contest_plane https://www.hillaryclinton.com/forms/plane-contest/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=fb&utm_campaign=20161019contest_plane

Oh, ha ha. I just got invited to an "event" with Senator Gillibrand to raise money for Secretary Clinton. Lol, ticket prices.

A genuinely applicable use of this poem tonight: Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and auld lang syne? And there's a hand, my trusty fiere! and gie's a hand o' thine! And we'll tak' a right gude-willie waught, for auld lang syne. For auld lang syne, my jo, for auld lang syne, we'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet, for auld lang syne. #DDFC

What is with the weather? It starts raining and then continues to the point of flood watches, and then the temperature drops into the 40's. I think we need to discuss the transition of seasons, here.

TIL there's this big charity dinner thing in NYC, the Al Smith dinner (that's not the full formal name). Yes, it is named for that Al Smith (see: American political history). It is a major fundraiser for Catholic Charities, and specifically helping moms and kids in need. It comes complete with its own Cardinal. It's also a big political event during presidential election years. I did not know this * shrug *. It seems it is traditional to invite the presidential candidates and they speak and it's all a light-hearted, self-deprecating bonhomie sort of event. Until tonight. I don't know what the joke writers tried to write, but what the candidates ended up with had some moments of not so light-hearted, not so bon, homie. Apparently, this was considered tres gauche. Not as precedent breaking as the booing, however. A room full of wealthy (not rich, wealthy) people in white tie and tails simply does not boo. Unless, it seems, Trump's writers let him be a polite versi...

It's International Sloth Day!! http://metro.co.uk/2016/10/20/international-sloth-day-21-things-you-never-knew-about-worlds-slowest-animal-6203597/ http://metro.co.uk/2016/10/20/international-sloth-day-21-things-you-never-knew-about-worlds-slowest-animal-6203597

https://blog.thedyrt.com/camp/week-gq-published-sexist-climbing-piece-outdoor-research-stepped-perfect-response/ https://blog.thedyrt.com/camp/week-gq-published-sexist-climbing-piece-outdoor-research-stepped-perfect-response

A great disservice? Really? Is that all you can come up with? Not a lying liar who lies and is unfit for membership in the human race? I mean, I hate to give any credit to you, but at least you were off the Trump train before the conventions. https://twitter.com/LindseyGrahamSC/status/788932279066329088 https://twitter.com/LindseyGrahamSC/status/788932279066329088

At this point, we are in a terrible Wagnerian opera cycle that never ends, and Trump is Alberich. Let's just hope somebody rewrites it with a happy ending.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-chinese-connection-fueling-americas-fentanyl-crisis-1466618934 http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-chinese-connection-fueling-americas-fentanyl-crisis-1466618934

Although there are always numbers indicating that the US takes the most opioids, this suggests that there are probably a lot of places in the world where people are trying to deal with life this way and then getting trapped by the drugs. Has anyone tried to understand the larger context of why people want/need this help? I'm guessing there's something there, but it's going to be all convoluted and difficult with fuzzy edges. http://www.wsj.com/articles/tramadol-the-opioid-crisis-for-the-rest-of-the-world-1476887401 http://www.wsj.com/articles/tramadol-the-opioid-crisis-for-the-rest-of-the-world-1476887401

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2016/10/20/bill-that-would-honor-world-war-iis-secret-commandos-cant-seem-to-pass-in-congress/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2016/10/20/bill-that-would-honor-world-war-iis-secret-commandos-cant-seem-to-pass-in-congress

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/oct/20/world-future-hangs-on-supporting-10-year-old-girls-un-population-fund https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/oct/20/world-future-hangs-on-supporting-10-year-old-girls-un-population-fund

https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/if-you-want-to-cure-all-diseases-include-all-of-the-world-s-scientists/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+guest-blog%2Ffeed+(Blog%3A+Guest+Blog) https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/if-you-want-to-cure-all-diseases-include-all-of-the-world-s-scientists/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+guest-blog%2Ffeed+(Blog%3A+Guest+Blog

Oh, god, the sock puppets. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMAuk5D6h1w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMAuk5D6h1w

Nasty women get shit done, y'all. (Shout out to Pamela Korda) http://qz.com/814542/presidential-debate-a-nasty-woman-website-already-redirects-to-hillary-clintons-campaign-site/ www.nastywomengetshitdone.com http://qz.com/814542/presidential-debate-a-nasty-woman-website-already-redirects-to-hillary-clintons-campaign-site

Oh, jesus. The white people are using 1950's TV to counter the black guy and the Hispanic gal on whether or not "bad hombres" was offensive and lumping all Mexicans/latinos into the murderous illegal aliens trope. Anderson Cooper tries to explain 1950's TV may not be the best reference, here. The offended parties try to explain why it is offensive, and the white people tell them they are too sensitive and politically correct. I can't even with this.

In the category of personal pet peeves - the HPV vaccine. A politicized disaster of o noes sex! nonsense even to get the thing tested AT ALL. Even though it was carried and spread by men, nevermind they can get icky sex cancers themselves, it was originally only tested on and eventually given to pure, young virgins girls. Then they finally were like, ok, fine, sex is gross but whatever test it in males. So now it is approved in boys. There is an estimate (and an accepted assumption) that most people will be exposed to HPV, per this article they are quoting 80% by age 45. Ok, so even if that were unequivocally supported by something more concrete than estimates, why wouldn't you give the vaccine to anyone under the age of 45 who wanted to get it? And why haven't we studied it to see what effect it has on rates of disease in people who are HPV positive? Particularly since per the quote below it's very unlikely that you would have been exposed to all the nasty strains, even i...

We don't talk about that. That's why it never happens to good people. http://www.nbcnews.com/health/sexual-health/sexually-transmitted-disease-cases-hit-new-high-u-s-n669051 http://www.nbcnews.com/health/sexual-health/sexually-transmitted-disease-cases-hit-new-high-u-s-n669051

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKfNp8NU82o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKfNp8NU82o

The original goes back a tiny bit, but this is the update for this year. http://www.rap-up.com/2016/10/14/new-music-wyclef-jean-if-i-was-president-2016/ http://www.rap-up.com/2016/10/14/new-music-wyclef-jean-if-i-was-president-2016

Portland peeps ok?

So, that's the menu set for NYE, then? https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/for-the-italy-state-dinner-mario-batali-and-team-work-their-magic-with-pasta/2016/10/17/5f30a616-948c-11e6-bc79-af1cd3d2984b_story.html?tid=a_inl https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/for-the-italy-state-dinner-mario-batali-and-team-work-their-magic-with-pasta/2016/10/17/5f30a616-948c-11e6-bc79-af1cd3d2984b_story.html?tid=a_inl

"Higgs Bison"? Really? Shaking my head. http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-37649597 http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-37649597

uh oh http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-37707776 http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-37707776

- locked - Dad's starting radiation treatments again on Thursday. ...................

See, the press is a big trouble maker. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/18/us/judge-rejects-riot-charge-against-amy-goodman-of-democracy-now-over-pipeline-protest.html http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/18/us/judge-rejects-riot-charge-against-amy-goodman-of-democracy-now-over-pipeline-protest.html

Gee, maybe he's outstayed his welcome? http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/19/world/europe/julian-assange-embassy.html?_r=0 http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/19/world/europe/julian-assange-embassy.html?_r=0

Well, bugger. Now reinforcing all stereotypes, this could explain why La Divina was so tasty and authentic. Goodbye, local Mexican food. http://buffalonews.com/2016/10/18/owner-four-buffalo-mexican-restaurants-charged-harboring-illegal-immigrants/ http://buffalonews.com/2016/10/18/owner-four-buffalo-mexican-restaurants-charged-harboring-illegal-immigrants

So much for Famnig Hjärta. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-37686968 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-37686968

We are one classy republic, we are. All artistic and stuff. http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/naked-statue-hillary-clinton-sparks-fight-manhattan-article-1.2834970 http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/naked-statue-hillary-clinton-sparks-fight-manhattan-article-1.2834970

The devil is in the details. http://www.bbc.com/news/health-37688385 http://www.bbc.com/news/health-37688385

I have become one of Those People. I volunteered for the Clinton campaign locally. Apparently, that includes potential trips to Ohio and Pennsylvania to help them out. I don't have to, but I suppose if the dates work out I might at least once. I will probably also volunteer to give people rides to their polling places on Nov 8, unless the County Board of Elections decides it wants me to play poll worker that day. #whathaveidone #whoareyouandwhatdidyoudowithme

TIL there was a king in Rwanda. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-37676464 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-37676464

Yikes. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-37679165 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-37679165

“For if you suffer your people to be ill-educated, and their manners to be corrupted from their infancy, and then punish them for those crimes to which their first education disposed them, what else is to be concluded from this, but that you first make thieves and then punish them.” ― Sir Thomas More, Utopia http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-37658374 http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-37658374

I am craving NY style white pizza. Delicious, salty, cheesy, tasty. What is up with that?

Again, surprising what will make me laugh. Srsly, tho, you owe it to yourself to hear the excerpts from Jill Stein's folk rock albums (things I could have lived without ever knowing that are nonetheless unsurprising). You may or may not wish to be heavily intoxicated in those sections. I'm pretty sure even ecstasy wouldn't help, though. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3O01EfM5fU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3O01EfM5fU

Oh, wow. I'm pretty sure I just heard Corey Lewandowski [on CNN] bring up an incident from the 1980's about Ted Kennedy and Chris Dodd getting drunk and molesting a waitress at a DC restaurant. And then go on about how there was no outrage over that (?) and then somehow use this as a rationale for why Trump was just engaging in "locker room talk" and how it's hypocritical for there to be outrage over the 2005 video of Trump bragging about committing sexual assault. So it's wrong if democratic senators did it 30 years ago, but it's ok if Trump did it 10 years ago? Or is it wrong for Trump to have done it, too, but now it's just wrong to complain that he did it because, per Lewandowski, there wasn't enough complaining in the 80's? And what in the name of the Billy Goats Gruff does any of that have to do with Hillary Clinton? Is it that hard to stay focused on who is actually running for president, here? I mean, if she sexually assaulted someone I...

Dear Weather, You seem confused. The high 70's in October is incorrect. Yours Sincerely,

We're probably all posting the same links to each other, but this is far more articulate than I am. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/17/opinion/donald-trump-the-worst-of-america.html?_r=0 http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/17/opinion/donald-trump-the-worst-of-america.html?_r=0

- lock - everything sucks and I feel horrible #mayneedspoons

Forgot about this. Grateful there were people who also supported him. This kind of nonsense is disgusting. I'm sure the same people who think he should be shot are all pro the second amendment, but obviously not the first. https://www.buzzfeed.com/emaoconnor/kaepernick-vs-bills?utm_term=.stnyrYQvR#.lcxKwBkOG https://www.buzzfeed.com/emaoconnor/kaepernick-vs-bills?utm_term=.stnyrYQvR#.lcxKwBkOG

Sigh. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-37628514 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-37628514

Glad I missed that interview. http://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2016-37661794 http://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2016-37661794

Wow. http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-37630561 http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-37630561

Kinda cool. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37670305 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37670305

Nice. In Milwaukee. http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/controversial-trump-supporting-sheriff-calls-pitchforks-torches/story?id=42830112 http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/controversial-trump-supporting-sheriff-calls-pitchforks-torches/story?id=42830112

Diseases don't just magically vanish. http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/10/16/497973176/why-is-the-news-about-tb-so-bad http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/10/16/497973176/why-is-the-news-about-tb-so-bad

I suspect we may be hearing more of this sort of thing. http://bangordailynews.com/2016/10/15/news/bangor/vandals-spray-paint-at-least-20-vehicles-outside-trump-rally-in-bangor/ http://bangordailynews.com/2016/10/15/news/bangor/vandals-spray-paint-at-least-20-vehicles-outside-trump-rally-in-bangor

Extremely sad. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/tyson-gay-teenage-daughter-trinity-killed-shooting-article-1.2832739 http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/tyson-gay-teenage-daughter-trinity-killed-shooting-article-1.2832739

Yes, please and thank you. http://www.cosmopolitan.com/politics/a6054076/dont-mansplain-the-election-to-me/ http://www.cosmopolitan.com/politics/a6054076/dont-mansplain-the-election-to-me

It's very hard for me to predict at what I will laugh these days. http://www.theonion.com/article/onion-withholding-our-endorsement-president-until--54164 http://www.theonion.com/article/onion-withholding-our-endorsement-president-until--54164

Vocabulary, a partial list for teaching about this election: Revanchism [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revanchism ] Irredentism [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irredentism ] Authochthonous [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_peoples ] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revanchism

How did I miss this kind of classy backup? Man, when Fox is in on it, you know there's a conspiracy. #nothereisntyoupitifulexcuseforelectricneuronalimpulses   http://www.cbsnews.com/news/geraldo-rivera-on-trumps-lewd-remarks-i-have-tapes/ http://www.cbsnews.com/news/geraldo-rivera-on-trumps-lewd-remarks-i-have-tapes

Well, since the Sanders subplot didn't work out, how about a little drug testing?  #fullofTrump   #ihateeverythingaboutthiselection   http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/15/politics/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-drug-test/ http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/15/politics/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-drug-test

So, apparently this exists locally: http://www.blacksquirreldistillery.com/products http://www.blacksquirreldistillery.com/products

If this is true, that Bernie Sanders is the ranking democrat on the Senate Budget committee and would become chair if the Senate flips, why isn't that message begin screamed from the rooftops to his supporters? Tell them why it's powerful, and tell them they can make that difference they've been pouting about! Maybe they'll vote for some other democrats while they're at it - like, you know, for president or something. http://occupydemocrats.com/2016/10/14/paul-ryan-bernie-sanders-will-lead-budget-committee-democrats-win-senate/ http://occupydemocrats.com/2016/10/14/paul-ryan-bernie-sanders-will-lead-budget-committee-democrats-win-senate

I just think marsupials are cute. http://imgur.com/gallery/onxsdJn http://imgur.com/gallery/onxsdJn

And your final cute for the day ... http://imgur.com/r/aww/FwcaHFe http://imgur.com/r/aww/FwcaHFe

Do not tease happy fun time shark (hope the shark was ok, it looked hurt). http://www.torontosun.com/2016/10/14/shark-breaks-into-divers-cage---and-he-walks-out-unharmed http://www.torontosun.com/2016/10/14/shark-breaks-into-divers-cage---and-he-walks-out-unharmed

Cool. (Yeah, it's breaking my only cute for today thing, but it's interesting and still not mentioning that other thing.) http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37654544 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37654544

http://imgur.com/r/aww/sIp0Cy1 http://imgur.com/r/aww/sIp0Cy1

d'aww http://imgur.com/r/aww/AOB7DD5 http://imgur.com/r/aww/AOB7DD5

For comparison, please see Giacomo Balla (second link). http://imgur.com/r/aww/IYZNiTJ http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/great-works/great-works-dynamism-of-a-dog-on-a-leash-1912-giacomo-balla-1781174.html http://imgur.com/r/aww/IYZNiTJ

Can't figure out how to get sound, but it's still legit. http://imgur.com/r/aww/9Jamlz1 http://imgur.com/r/aww/9Jamlz1

Today, my stream is free of inappropriate individuals. It's all cute, all the time. http://imgur.com/r/aww/qoci2Ol http://imgur.com/r/aww/qoci2Ol

It's not like they do anything. https://www.buzzfeed.com/tomchivers/rainy-day-women?utm_term=.exLedn0rlX#.wcPgw8d1Oy https://www.buzzfeed.com/tomchivers/rainy-day-women?utm_term=.exLedn0rlX#.wcPgw8d1Oy

The birds! http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/black-sun-starling-migration-denmark-1.3803094 http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/black-sun-starling-migration-denmark-1.3803094

Cool. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nbm-glass-gown-1.3802948 http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nbm-glass-gown-1.3802948

Sigh. http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21708723-healthy-democracies-depend-unwritten-rules-republican-nominee-has-trampled-all-over http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21708723-healthy-democracies-depend-unwritten-rules-republican-nominee-has-trampled-all-over

http://mashable.com/2016/10/07/polar-bear-ice/#iMAnMVtZwmqt http://mashable.com/2016/10/07/polar-bear-ice/#iMAnMVtZwmqt

I can't even. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/muslim-family-fled-america-islamophobia-usmani_us_57fd058fe4b0e655eab7aa3c http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/muslim-family-fled-america-islamophobia-usmani_us_57fd058fe4b0e655eab7aa3c

Ok, sure. http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/13/world/nobel-prize-literature/ http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/13/world/nobel-prize-literature