G+ Migration Blog

#pizzahat #puntastic http://www.npr.org/2017/01/27/512047362/commercials-for-nicer-living-project-winners-announced http://www.npr.org/2017/01/27/512047362/commercials-for-nicer-living-project-winners-announced

I like the math one. http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/01/28/511828717/with-a-bevy-of-ads-students-school-us-on-all-the-little-joys-in-life http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/01/28/511828717/with-a-bevy-of-ads-students-school-us-on-all-the-little-joys-in-life

There's a lot in here. I feel like I should give a trigger warning, because it does talk about people dying in the healthcare system, and some specific instances that may be too descriptive. http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/01/30/512426568/doctor-considers-the-pitfalls-of-extending-life-and-prolonging-death http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/01/30/512426568/doctor-considers-the-pitfalls-of-extending-life-and-prolonging-death

Aw, doggies. http://www.npr.org/sections/monkeysee/2017/01/26/511776843/a-dogs-actual-purposes-based-on-unscientific-observation-of-real-dogs http://www.npr.org/sections/monkeysee/2017/01/26/511776843/a-dogs-actual-purposes-based-on-unscientific-observation-of-real-dogs

Whee! http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2017/01/31/512716015/drug-resistant-malaria-turns-up-in-the-u-k http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2017/01/31/512716015/drug-resistant-malaria-turns-up-in-the-u-k

Nope, no war-like actions here. P.S. You do realize this would apply to your precious anti-gay, anti-abortion marches, too, right? P.P.S. You're going to make it a felony?! I must really not understand what a felony is, then. There must be some legal technicality that I am deeply uninformed about when standing in the road and inconveniencing people is a potential felony. http://www.npr.org/2017/01/31/512636448/bills-across-the-country-could-increase-penalties-for-protesters http://www.npr.org/2017/01/31/512636448/bills-across-the-country-could-increase-penalties-for-protesters

Great. http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/01/31/512690691/trump-political-advisers-now-raising-money-for-his-america-first-agenda http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/01/31/512690691/trump-political-advisers-now-raising-money-for-his-america-first-agenda

Headdesk. http://www.npr.org/2017/01/29/512336574/as-protests-emerge-brothers-agree-to-give-trump-administration-a-chance http://www.npr.org/2017/01/29/512336574/as-protests-emerge-brothers-agree-to-give-trump-administration-a-chance

Bill the cat - not cute, but on point with his hairball. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2e5cmja599g https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2e5cmja599g

Does he always talk like this? Maybe I should watch him? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLgAB6NX3lw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLgAB6NX3lw

Best takedown ever of that stupid hobbit comment Bannon made. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuSDet45aKI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuSDet45aKI

Since when does the federal government have anything to say about education beyond high school? And of all people, this narrow-minded sell-out? http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/jerry-falwell-jr-asked-lead-trump-education-task-force-n715116 http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/jerry-falwell-jr-asked-lead-trump-education-task-force-n715116

COOL. http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-38810065 http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-38810065

I realize this is an impression created as much as anything by the bias of the news reporting, but does Trump ever have an original idea, or is what he thinks just other people's ideas that confirm his existing biases? http://www.bbc.com/news/business-38811461 http://www.bbc.com/news/business-38811461

Guess Mr. Spicer was right. The media sure does get stuff wrong. Fox News is still your buddy, though, right? http://www.businessinsider.com/trudeau-quebec-mosque-shooting-fox-news-tweet-2017-1 http://www.businessinsider.com/trudeau-quebec-mosque-shooting-fox-news-tweet-2017-1

So, not a holdover from Obama, not an unqualified success, and they did kill civilians. And it is being used in propaganda against the US. This administration was in place for barely a week and they managed this. Plus they managed to lose equipment, injure several SEALs and get one killed. I'm pretty sure this is not how this is supposed to work. http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/seal-american-girl-die-first-trump-era-u-s-military-n714346 https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2017/01/31/how-trumps-first-counter-terror-operation-in-yemen-turned-into-chaos/?utm_term=.09afe854e763 http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/seal-american-girl-die-first-trump-era-u-s-military-n714346

Hey, G+, WHERE'S MY JINGLE BELL. You took away Mr. Jingles! No! Bad G+, no biscuit!

- locked - Because the world is so awesome right now, my mom. That's it, just my mom. She has myriad things over which she obsesses, myriad tiny little tools of abuse. The other night, she pestered my dad, again, about eating. He hasn't had a problem with this in a way that would have endangered his health in a couple of years, now, but she continues to bully him about what he eats, if he eats, when, he eats, how he eats, and so forth. He told her that he was fine with whatever he'd had that day, wasn't hungry, thank you for asking. She walked out of the room and muttered under her breath (you know, in that way where people are obviously supposed to hear you while you pretend you said it so they couldn't hear you), "well, if that's the way you want to go, fine." As in, if you want to kill yourself by starving yourself to death you go right ahead. The times my dad had problems with eating it was because of the cancer or the cancer treatment. So he wasn...

Wasn't feelin' the cute critters, but have some cute microbes instead. http://www.giantmicrobes.com/us/ #cutecritterprotocol http://www.giantmicrobes.com/us/

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/remembering-executive-order-9066-single-act-began-internment-n706371 http://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/remembering-executive-order-9066-single-act-began-internment-n706371

Oh, good. Things are going well, then. Meanwhile, there's a sentence that is supposed to be describing it as a failed missile test 'cuz it didn't make it on re-entry. Thing is, I keep hearing it as if it was Galaxy Quest : Iran tested a missile on Sunday that flew 550 nautical miles turned inside out and then it exploded. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-says-iran-has-tested-a-ballistic-missile/ http://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-says-iran-has-tested-a-ballistic-missile/

Well, that vacation's over. http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/obama-rejects-trump-immigration-orders-backs-protests-n714341 http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/obama-rejects-trump-immigration-orders-backs-protests-n714341

I know this is serious science, and I know that even with the scare quotes that's a click-bait headline, but this explains so much about our current administration. They're all throwbacks. The researchers were unable to find any evidence that the animal had an anus, which suggests that it consumed food and excreted from the same orifice. http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-38800987 http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-38800987

- Much locked - I am not handling things so well at the moment. It's very hard not to fall back into a spiral of hating myself, which is a habit from years of crap. It's hard to give a frak and get out of bed because the world sucks and this isn't some cute WWII movie where it all works out in the end and everybody's a hero. It's hard to live in this environment and still want to fight to fix my life. It's hard to have to deal with hating my mother. It's hard to give a damn about much of anything, including myself. I'm tired. I'm exhausted. I'm frustrated. I'm angry that I didn't recognize that I grew up in an abusive environment and fight back sooner. I'm angry that nobody else did, either. I'm angry that it left me damaged in ways that led to poor decisions on my part and that all the people who were supposed to be so knowledgeable handed out ignorant or stupid or useless advice, but I was so well raised that you just don't ...

Could someone explain any of this, please? How is it not being a "grown-up" to exercise our constitutional rights to challenge our government? What are we needing to "do better to check on people"? This is not a "glitch". There is no such thing as 100% "safe", and even with the incidents of terrorism that have happened here, they've almost all happened in the same parts of the country that are calling this order illegal and fighting it. Nobody is violating our borders. "Conditions in parts of the world"? Then why aren't we banning everyone from Saudi Arabia, since they are the primary proponent of extreme Wahabism, i.e. hello terrorism? You live near Washington DC, it's one of the most secured parts of the country. What are you afraid of, or is "you can't ban everybody" code for but we should? I really wish I understood why these people think we're begin overrun by a bunch of criminals and terrorists. This ...

And I can't believe I'm linking to this publication. Maybe Jared should go listen to his grandmother's testimony. She was a Holocaust survivor, so was his grandfather. https://www.thenation.com/article/nobody-wanted-to-take-us-in-the-story-of-jared-kushners-family-and-mine/ https://www.thenation.com/article/nobody-wanted-to-take-us-in-the-story-of-jared-kushners-family-and-mine/

I would like to respectfully disagree with someone who is not part of the group with whom I am sharing this. Actually, several people aren't in this group because reasons. Anyway. Yes, it is wrong for the customer service reps to get dumped on in any situation. Technically, hotel staff are not part of the administration. Guess what, Trump refused to separate himself from his businesses, so they are him to a lot of people. And don't tell me they aren't using the name and its association with POTUS for their business interests. In addition, he and his administration have not prioritized making it possible to at least feel like you've directly communicated to the White House. This is called thinking outside the box. Or disruptive innovation, if you'd like to stretch a point. Yes, it is bad for the hotel employees who have to answer the phone. I don't really think it would be good for the volunteers who used to staff the White House comment line. Can't get to on...

I'm sorry, who's not in touch with reality? P.S. This is where Ivanka was going in her silver lame cum mylar refugee blanket. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/reliable-source/wp/2017/01/29/a-political-truce-is-called-at-the-104th-annual-alfalfa-club-dinner/?tid=pm_lifestyle_pop&utm_term=.227cb4b47fda https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/reliable-source/wp/2017/01/29/a-political-truce-is-called-at-the-104th-annual-alfalfa-club-dinner/?tid=pm_lifestyle_pop&utm_term=.227cb4b47fda

SAG had something to say tonight. So many over-rated actors. So sad. (Lily Tomlin is darn funny, ftw.) http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-2017-award-season-live-blog-watch-mahershala-ali-s-emotional-sag-1485740781-htmlstory.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2017/01/29/sag-awards-get-political-early-as-julia-louis-dreyfus-ashton-kutcher-slam-trumps-executive-order/?utm_term=.7113fe280d1e http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-2017-award-season-live-blog-watch-mahershala-ali-s-emotional-sag-1485740781-htmlstory.html

No comment. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/29/world/americas/5-reported-dead-in-shooting-at-quebec-city-mosque.html?_r=0 https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/29/world/americas/5-reported-dead-in-shooting-at-quebec-city-mosque.html?_r=0

This is reasonably written, although I'm not really sure who the audience is supposed to be, considering it's in The Atlantic, but appeals to both high and low and the American people, most of whom don't read these kinds of publications and many of whom are busy admiring their man of action leader who has stated that he doesn't like to read. I hope he's right. I hope Trumpannon fails. But for somebody with his experience, this reads as awfully naive. And I, a very naive if cynical person, am saying that. In rebuttal of some of his statement I must first say that this didn't "come upon us unawares." You people set this up. You let it loose, and then you could not control it. Maybe you personally don't think you did, but this is very logically what the obstructionism of Newt Gingrich and Mitch McConnell (and a long list of others) led to. This is what the Republican tolerance and active participation in racist opposition to Obama's administration...

Cute critters, froggy edition. #cutecritterprotocol

Earwormed with theme from "The Good, the bad, and the ugly" - 'cuz it's on TV and my dad and I were joking about it.

Oo, hey, there's another major airline ground stop over computer problems! Great day for it.

Yes! http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-attorneygenerals-idUSKBN15D0XZ http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-attorneygenerals-idUSKBN15D0XZ

- locked - Mom is being a complete ... itch.

Suddenly, this show's existence seems a little too on point. http://www.denofgeek.com/us/tv/the-man-in-the-high-castle/260880/the-man-in-the-high-castle-season-3-confirmed http://www.denofgeek.com/us/tv/the-man-in-the-high-castle/260880/the-man-in-the-high-castle-season-3-confirmed

Nope, no conflicts of interest. None. http://www.npr.org/2017/01/29/511857819/trumps-supreme-court-nominee-could-hear-case-affecting-trump-golf-courses http://www.npr.org/2017/01/29/511857819/trumps-supreme-court-nominee-could-hear-case-affecting-trump-golf-courses

Nope, not "just". Participatory democracy is critical if we don't want to lose our right to it. And it isn't "just" advocating, and it isn't "just" participatory democracy. Sure, lots of places have it, now, in various forms. But for us, it is a critical underpinning of what we are as a country. The apathy that people like to pontificate about and then ignore is as much to blame for where we are as anything. It's a pain in the butt, but if you don't do something, even something minimal, even on an occasional regular basis, you are letting other people decide how this works and whether or not you get to have rights as a citizen. So while this may not be innovative, that isn't the point. Get out there and do something . "... all of the actual participation that they are advocating for is normal, and really just advocating for participatory democracy." http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2017/01/27/512007632/its-not...

#messedup http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2017/01/29/509343434/the-extraordinary-courage-of-acid-attack-survivors http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2017/01/29/509343434/the-extraordinary-courage-of-acid-attack-survivors

Just putting this here for my own info, but feel free to read if technicalities interest you. https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2017/01/27/democrats-in-congress-can-block-trumps-agenda-if-they-want-to-heres-how/?tid=pm_pop&utm_term=.a299dc8a5c3c https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2017/01/27/democrats-in-congress-can-block-trumps-agenda-if-they-want-to-heres-how/?tid=pm_pop&utm_term=.a299dc8a5c3c

Thoughtful. https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2017/01/27/in-venezuela-we-couldnt-stop-chavez-dont-make-the-same-mistakes-we-did/?tid=pm_opinions_pop&utm_term=.a6054c572b02 https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2017/01/27/in-venezuela-we-couldnt-stop-chavez-dont-make-the-same-mistakes-we-did/?tid=pm_opinions_pop&utm_term=.a6054c572b02

Somebody sneaked in and leaked Republicans conversations. Notwithstanding they are angry and probably hunting her (it's apparently a woman) down, a little transparency is a novel concept. https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2017/01/27/in-leaked-audio-republicans-destroy-their-own-public-talking-points-on-obamacare/?utm_term=.3c297e228764 https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2017/01/27/in-leaked-audio-republicans-destroy-their-own-public-talking-points-on-obamacare/?utm_term=.3c297e228764

I suppose none of this matters to people who feel like their whole lives will magically improve by ignorantly shouting at people they've never met to "go home". It doesn't really matter if they wear an official brown shirt or not if that's what they are thinking and supporting. http://www.nature.com/news/meet-the-scientists-affected-by-trump-s-immigration-ban-1.21389 http://www.nature.com/news/meet-the-scientists-affected-by-trump-s-immigration-ban-1.21389

Yep. Keepin' out those terrorists. http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-38786119 http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-38786119

He lives in the US, or he did, anyway. http://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/38788910 http://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/38788910

They also have the best hats! No, seriously, these are some snazzy dressers. Women and class. Go them. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-38679913 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-38679913

That's nice. But you might want to talk to Bannon, Miller, Priebus, Pence, Conway, and a few others (Ryan, anyone?) while you're at it. As long as they blow sunshine up Trump's skirt, he's all for it. In fact, I'm quite sure he thinks he'd be much happier in fantasy 1940 land. I know his hangers-on would. https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/01/trumps-executive-orders-will-set-america-back-70-years/514730/ https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/01/trumps-executive-orders-will-set-america-back-70-years/514730/

This is my surprised face. http://www.npr.org/2017/01/28/512201631/trumps-executive-order-on-ethics-pulls-word-for-word-from-obama-clinton http://www.npr.org/2017/01/28/512201631/trumps-executive-order-on-ethics-pulls-word-for-word-from-obama-clinton

Hope they have a plan for the SCOTUS nominations, too, because this admin is obviously trying to exhaust people with constant battles until they run out of resources or energy or cope. Divided they fall. http://thehill.com/homenews/house/316777-democrats-will-hold-rally-at-supreme-court-to-protest-trumps-executive-order http://thehill.com/homenews/house/316777-democrats-will-hold-rally-at-supreme-court-to-protest-trumps-executive-order

While this list may change, it is probably important that we start keeping track of this stuff ourselves. Aside from "alternative facts", 2018 elections can make a difference in Congress and people have short memories. Yes, there are unfortunately some districts where it will probably mean more to them that their Rep or Sen supported Bannon Trump, however tepidly, and gerrymandering is a tough wall everywhere. Nevertheless, if we are going to have to pick and choose which Republicans we go after, this is important stuff to keep in mind. It is probably also worth looking at which of those up in 2018 are Dems stuck in states that went for Trump and that sort of info. http://www.vox.com/2017/1/29/14427466/republican-congress-silent-trump-refugee http://www.vox.com/2017/1/29/14427466/republican-congress-silent-trump-refugee

Ok, that's a point. Also, we have got to find some people less scummy who are interested in running this country. Sheesh. "... objectivity ... is not neutrality." http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/01/the-perils-of-calling-trump-a-liar-214704 http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/01/the-perils-of-calling-trump-a-liar-214704

Omg, Jan Brewer is an ignorant ass. A bigoted, ignorant ass. That is all. (She's the just barely previous governor of Arizona.)

You know, I used to at least try and read something vaguely non-partisan and vetted. I don't even know what to listen to anymore, partly because we're being put through a Lightning War (Blitzkrieg) of a different kind. The Media (I feel like this should become like saying Frau Blücher with ominous sound effects attached) had years to see what was going on here and they still don't know what to do with themselves. Just like Europe and the world had years to see what was happening, and when reporters on the ground reported Nazi Germany was invading Poland, they were initially scoffed at. All of which is to say that in addition to Stephen Bannon and Kellyanne Conway, this guy Stephen Miller whose name keeps popping up is sounding very much like the third member of an axis of evil behind the curtain. Goebbels, Goering, and Himmler, maybe? There were a lot of leading National Socialists, actually, but those names and their roles are at least generally known. After I read the fi...

Not linking to her twit feed, but that's the complete tweet. This just strengthens my opinion that this is a strategy to distract and control and manipulate supporters and non-supporters alike. “Get used to it. @POTUS is a man of action and impact. Promises made, promises kept. Shock to the system. And he's just getting started.” http://www.businessinsider.com/conway-on-trump-refugee-ban-get-used-to-it-hes-just-getting-started-2017-1 http://www.businessinsider.com/conway-on-trump-refugee-ban-get-used-to-it-hes-just-getting-started-2017-1

Gee, he's even offending Jacksonians. http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/01/andrew-jackson-donald-trump-populist-president-history-214705 http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/01/andrew-jackson-donald-trump-populist-president-history-214705

It's a mycobacterium and it's treatable and if you can stop transmission, you can eradicate it. http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/Why-India-needs-to-step-up-its-fight/article17109549.ece http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/Why-India-needs-to-step-up-its-fight/article17109549.ece

Cute animal protocol, level sloth: http://www.animalplanet.com/tv-shows/too-cute/videos/too-cute-baby-sloths/ #cutecritterprotocol http://www.animalplanet.com/tv-shows/too-cute/videos/too-cute-baby-sloths/

I wonder how many of the Iranians are Baha'i or Jewish. There are large communities of both on the West Coast of the US and Canada. http://www.latimes.com/politics/washington/la-na-trailguide-updates-immigration-attorneys-seeking-to-help-1485644960-htmlstory.html http://www.latimes.com/politics/washington/la-na-trailguide-updates-immigration-attorneys-seeking-to-help-1485644960-htmlstory.html

This is a rough protocol and a really low threshold for hoping it works. That's how bad HIV infection is in Africa. http://www.npr.org/2017/01/23/511165527/researchers-have-high-hopes-for-new-hiv-vaccine-trial-in-south-africa http://www.npr.org/2017/01/23/511165527/researchers-have-high-hopes-for-new-hiv-vaccine-trial-in-south-africa

http://www.npr.org/2017/01/28/512005140/we-werent-looking-for-a-better-life-we-were-just-looking-for-life http://www.npr.org/2017/01/28/512005140/we-werent-looking-for-a-better-life-we-were-just-looking-for-life

At least we've got Lyon. http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/01/26/511836110/for-the-first-time-u-s-wins-elite-bocuse-dor-culinary-competition http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/01/26/511836110/for-the-first-time-u-s-wins-elite-bocuse-dor-culinary-competition

My answer to what Bannon is doing on the NSC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eeZY_ayVdw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eeZY_ayVdw

Well, this is a fun read. Could we pass an executive order to speak 5th grade English in all future documents? It'd be a lot easier on the eyes. Um, I don't know anything about this, but what could the Privy Council Principals Committee possibly have to discuss that wouldn't pertain to the responsibilities and expertise of the Director of National Intelligence and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs? It's, you know, the National Security Council. The Director of National Intelligence and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall attend where issues pertaining to their responsibilities and expertise are to be discussed. It's entirely rhetorical to wonder what the heck business Bannon has being anywhere near the National Security Council, nevermind on the PC. http://www.voanews.com/a/trump-memorandum-organization-national-security-council/3697142.html http://www.voanews.com/a/trump-memorandum-organization-national-security-council/3697142.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/11/24/anne-frank-and-her-family-were-also-denied-entry-as-refugees-to-the-u-s/?tid=hybrid_experimentrandom_1_na&utm_term=.dd8910ba580e https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/11/24/anne-frank-and-her-family-were-also-denied-entry-as-refugees-to-the-u-s/?tid=hybrid_experimentrandom_1_na&utm_term=.dd8910ba580e

Since when is it legal in this country to just ask someone walking down the street for their papers? This is like some bad, through the looking glass, black and white, WWII or Cold War movie. Who the hell carries ID just to walk around their neighborhood? I will say that they are apparently immediately addressing this in what sounds like an appropriate manner with retraining and educating the police and dispatchers, but the lead up to it is, uh, disturbing. Pillalamarri told WJZ-TV Bel Air police officers demanded her ID after a resident called her in as suspicious. Can we have an active drive to educate people against racism NOW?!? Because THIS IS RACIST. “I had just come out for a walk, so I didn’t have my ID. And he said, ‘Why don’t you have ID? Are you here illegally?’” Pillalamarri said. Why in the seven hells would that be the first question you would ask??? NOBODY CARRIES ID IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD. Bel Air Police Chief Charles Moore said asking for her nationality is insensi...

This is insane. How can this be legal? http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/officials-say-visas-were-being-revoked-prior-trump-s-executive-n713546 http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/officials-say-visas-were-being-revoked-prior-trump-s-executive-n713546

23. Wow. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/28/sports/tennis/serena-williams-venus-australian-open.html https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/28/sports/tennis/serena-williams-venus-australian-open.html

Aw. http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-38749804 http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-38749804

Yes, methylmercury is bad for you. http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-38769697 http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-38769697

Thiel is disturbed, and I think he means it when he says getting rid of CA would help Trump's re-election. It's one of the states that has enough electoral votes to matter. Not that Thiel is worried, since he's apparently now a citizen of New Zealand (money can get you a lot of things, it seems). Meanwhile, there's actual points about why it would be a problem if CA seceded in this article. http://www.breitbart.com/california/2017/01/12/peter-thiel-trump-calexit-california-succession/ http://www.breitbart.com/california/2017/01/12/peter-thiel-trump-calexit-california-succession/

Well, it's sorta funny? Also, they clearly need guns. They have bears on their mugs. Edit: To clarify, these raise money for Planned Parenthood. https://boingboing.net/2017/01/21/california-resistance-mugs-wit.html?utm_source=moreatbb&utm_medium=nextpost&utm_campaign=nextpostthumbnails https://boingboing.net/2017/01/21/california-resistance-mugs-wit.html?utm_source=moreatbb&utm_medium=nextpost&utm_campaign=nextpostthumbnails

I'd make a joke about being a sopapilla, but it doesn't work as well. Of course, there already is a black market in Krispy Kremes (there really is a thing across the border). https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/27/berlin-mayor-michael-mueller-donald-trump-border-wall https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/27/berlin-mayor-michael-mueller-donald-trump-border-wall

We should listen. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38745115 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38745115

I guess Ivanka and Jared forgot to remind him. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/01/27/trump-fails-mention-jews-holocaust-remembrance-statement/97150252/ http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/01/27/trump-fails-mention-jews-holocaust-remembrance-statement/97150252/

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/01/27/512036362/in-apology-for-decades-old-lynching-police-chief-aims-to-interrupt-the-past http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/01/27/512036362/in-apology-for-decades-old-lynching-police-chief-aims-to-interrupt-the-past

One franchise offered to donate a portion of your check to Planned Parenthood if you said you wanted them to, and they got such a backlash that they canceled it. The web turned it into some kind of nationwide panic that Chili's was pro-abortion. You know, I'm kind of tired of people claiming they just want to protect the innocent and their rights when they are the ones libeling and threatening and bullying people. Free speech is not the right to lie about and bully people because they don't share your beliefs. Freedom of religion is the right to practice your religion in your home, not the right to impose it on everyone else. http://www.snopes.com/chilis-planned-parenthood/ http://www.snopes.com/chilis-planned-parenthood/

Is this even real? It's messed up if so. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/beware-new-can-you-hear-me-scam/ http://www.cbsnews.com/news/beware-new-can-you-hear-me-scam/

Interesting. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-38779685 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-38779685

Seriously, I'm linking to the NY Daily News? Shaking my head. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/trump-muslim-ban-excludes-countries-linked-businesses-article-1.2957956 http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/trump-muslim-ban-excludes-countries-linked-businesses-article-1.2957956

Sick yesterday, so catching up. This has made me sad. http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-38778145 http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-38778145

Cute critter protocol, otter edition: https://www.buzzfeed.com/kaelintully/otters-are-even-better-than-bill-murray-and-im-a-huge-fan?utm_term=.mmwPEnxa0#.cwl52Dp1w https://www.buzzfeed.com/kaelintully/otters-are-even-better-than-bill-murray-and-im-a-huge-fan?utm_term=.mmwPEnxa0#.cwl52Dp1w

I'm inclined to believe there's a problem, but I don't think anyone is going to do anything about it. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-38756601 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-38756601

This must be frustrating to people at the CDC, but they're probably glad it's going to happen. http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/cdc-climate-change-health-meeting-back-without-cdc-n712816 http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/cdc-climate-change-health-meeting-back-without-cdc-n712816

Again, no comment. http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/republicans-alarmed-over-obama-s-executive-orders-cheer-trump-s-n712231 http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/republicans-alarmed-over-obama-s-executive-orders-cheer-trump-s-n712231

I have many thoughts, but am tired. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/01/26/first-sanctuary-city-caves-donald-trump-demands/97111048/ http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/01/26/first-sanctuary-city-caves-donald-trump-demands/97111048/

Interesting hypothesis floated, off all things, by an ex-Breitbart person in re: media is the opposition. Trump and Bannon et al need an opponent, need a fight. They had 16 (?) people to go after in the primary, Clinton in the election. Now, they are the establishment and they need a fight. So they are picking one with the media. Because they cannot function if they do not have this game to play.

What the bleep is an American Christian group doing messing around in a Swedish legal case?! Go home! http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38756567 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38756567

SAT Civics questions - Fill in the analogy: Pasteurized prepared cheese product is to cheese, as Trump is to ...

I don't think even Nixon would want to be associated with you, sir. You didn't leave because people thought you were a jerk to retweet misogyny, although you were. You left to avoid either expulsion or impeachment. At least be honest with yourself and stop whining about how people were mean to you. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/nebraska-lawmaker-bill-kintner-resigns-over-womens-march-tweet-a7546591.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/nebraska-lawmaker-bill-kintner-resigns-over-womens-march-tweet-a7546591.html

The fat's in the fire? http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article128870129.html http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article128870129.html

Is it wrong that I immediately thought of the Doctor Who episode "Daleks in Manhattan" when I saw this? http://www.bbc.com/news/health-38717930 http://www.bbc.com/news/health-38717930

As pointed out elsewhere, it's super amusing (see: sarcasm) that none of the places on the potential muslim terrorist country ban are any of the countries from which the 9/11 terrorists came: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Lebanon, Egypt.

It's the headline, not the article. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/01/26/breaking-news-trump-doing-stuff-that-promised-to-do.html http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/01/26/breaking-news-trump-doing-stuff-that-promised-to-do.html

The 1960s, man. #throwbackthursday https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01-2pNCZiNk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01-2pNCZiNk

Well, I just confirmed some stuff about the election. I will clarify at some point. No surprises at this point, but it doesn't make my hide less chapped.

Uh-oh. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-38753006 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-38753006

Wrap a pachyderm! http://www.fodors.com/news/villagers-in-india-knit-sweaters-for-elephants-to-keep-them-warm-in-near-fr-12274 http://www.fodors.com/news/villagers-in-india-knit-sweaters-for-elephants-to-keep-them-warm-in-near-fr-12274

Hey! I'm nappin' here! http://www.sunnyskyz.com/good-news/2018/This-Sea-Lion-Found-A-Unique-Place-To-Take-A-Nap http://www.sunnyskyz.com/good-news/2018/This-Sea-Lion-Found-A-Unique-Place-To-Take-A-Nap

Doodle for tomorrow, I think. Go Bessie! https://www.google.com/doodles/bessie-colemans-125th-birthday https://www.google.com/doodles/bessie-colemans-125th-birthday

Other fun things - caught literally minutes of something with Whoopi Goldberg on CNN. She said something about talking with women at the women's march who had voted for Trump. Roughly, they voted for $reasons and when he immediately started doing stuff they didn't agree with, they wanted to let him know.++ Still want to punch things when I hear this kind of stuff. Voting on issues is what we should be able to do. However, if you make one issue overridingly important (like homosexuals, like abortion, etc. - just picking a few from the list that is evidence based for some population segments), you are choosing to take what you get on the other issues. That doesn't mean you aren't prepared to challenge those positions. I mean, seriously, nobody finds a candidate that's 100% on everything. But own that you made that choice. If you are choosing many issues, or a general philosophy, again, know what you are choosing. Further, know that you are affecting many other people,...

Too tired to deal with sorting links and hoping a few are "reliable sources" like, what even does that mean, anymore. Anyway. Voice of America had some kind of governing board that was supposed to try to prevent issues, of which there were some under the W Bush admin, but the board was gotten rid of. Now, there's a CEO or something like it and the Trumpeters have replaced or put in place two yutes who were loyalists during the campaign. Both seem to be far over to the right. One of them seems to have a history of being involved in far right radio, the other moved to NH as part of something that was a deliberate program to get enough libertarians to move to NH to, I guess, use it as a base to spread their philosophy nationwide? So, obs, concerns that this will turn into the Trump Network and promote the Trump Truth. On the one hand, that's sort of rich considering VOA only exists because it was a cold war propaganda tool (correct me if that's wrong). Otoh, people w...

Cute animal protocol, marsupial edition. https://www.thedodo.com/7-super-cute-marsupials-you-di-887332433.html http://www.wanderlust.co.uk/magazine/blogs/weird@wanderlust/australias-7-cutest-marsupials-and-where-to-find-them #cutecritterprotocol https://www.thedodo.com/7-super-cute-marsupials-you-di-887332433.html

Interesting. http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/01/trump-is-now-assigning-the-news-214690 http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/01/trump-is-now-assigning-the-news-214690

"... this is a publication now centered around the Emperor Trump philosophy ... In the Kremlinology, Breitbart will reflect the Bannon position inside the White House ..." https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/01/breitbart-news-goes-mainstream/514421/ https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/01/breitbart-news-goes-mainstream/514421/

Interesting comment seen elsewhere regarding the no communication business with EPA, HHS, etc. Wondering what those of you who'd know more think? Is this what businesses do when they engage in a hostile takeover? Is that what this is? "I think what we are seeing are classic business moves conducted after a hostile take over." "Shut down hiring, cut non essential costs, eliminate outside communication to ensure a control of message and no sudden fears by stockholders and or clients. Reassess positions and determine course of action."

Oh, right #waybackwednesday. Have something suitable to the occasion. Chopin, Marche Funèbre. And a Katherine Hepburn quote from "Stage Door". The calla lilies are in bloom again. Such a strange flower—suitable to any occasion. I carried them on my wedding day, and now I place them here in memory of something that has died. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hgw_RD_1_5I https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hgw_RD_1_5I

Harsh but brilliant way to remind people of where they are when they take selfies. And I don't think it is too much to ask of people to respect what a memorial or cemetery or gravesite represents if they are going to photograph it at all. And taking a photo is very different from taking a selfie. Some pieces of history should not be treated casually, even if the artist of the memorial doesn't care. (There are a few selfies still up at the linked site within the article. They may be very distressing and the juxtaposition the artist created may also be very distressing.) http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2017/01/24/511244932/satirist-takes-berlin-holocaust-memorial-selfie-takers-to-task http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2017/01/24/511244932/satirist-takes-berlin-holocaust-memorial-selfie-takers-to-task

NPR has come down on the side of if you can't prove intent, you can't call someone a liar. This is fair, but it prompts me to ask: can you call them delusional? There's no intent with delusional, nor does the definition of the term require a medical diagnosis. #alternativefacts #darkesttimeline

Or we were wrong and everything is fine. Lettuce explore this further ... http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/12/10/504691357/million-year-old-hero-bug-emerges-from-cave http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/12/10/504691357/million-year-old-hero-bug-emerges-from-cave

We're all gonna die. #dontpanic http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2017/01/24/510583882/new-medical-worry-deadly-fungal-infection-that-resists-treatment http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2017/01/24/510583882/new-medical-worry-deadly-fungal-infection-that-resists-treatment

Who's betting this administration will appoint a Sec'y of Agriculture and Sec'y of HHS who will work together to end industrial use of antibiotics (and antifungals - see next post) in animal husbandry and crop cultivation? Anyone? Bueller? http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2017/01/17/510227493/a-superbug-that-resisted-26-antibiotics http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2017/01/17/510227493/a-superbug-that-resisted-26-antibiotics

Here's a place where I hypothesize that religion and fear of lawsuits converge to contravene a law that citizens have asked for. Opponents of aid in dying cite providers' reluctance as evidence that the laws are flawed and the practice is repugnant to a profession trained to heal. "People consider it a breaking of professional integrity," says Dr. David Stevens, chief executive of Christian Medical & Dental Associations, which has worked to stop or overturn aid-in-dying laws in several states. Masculine Cattle Excrement. You have a religious bias. Healing does not mean fixing or curing when that cannot happen. It can mean easing someone's suffering. Guess what. Sometimes that means death and it is not up to you to judge their choice. "Eisenhower's mission recognizes that death is a natural stage of the life journey and Eisenhower will not intentionally hasten it," Dr. Alan Williamson, vice president of medical affairs of the non-profit hospital, ...

The optics of what that tweet sounds like will play beautifully on international news media. Not to mention that it sounds an awful lot like he'd love to start a problem and then claim to have cleaned it up while using it as a scare tactic to hornswaggle a credulous segment of the American population. http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/01/25/511582874/trump-threatens-to-send-in-the-feds-over-chicago-s-violent-crime http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/01/25/511582874/trump-threatens-to-send-in-the-feds-over-chicago-s-violent-crime

So the administration's agenda is: 1) Protect the Second Amendment and Stand Up for Law Enforcement 2) Repeal the First Amendment and Lock Up all those Lying Journalists. Got it. http://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2017-01-24/inauguration-mass-arrest-of-protesters-journalists-a-throwback-with-a-familiar-face-attorneys-say http://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2017-01-24/inauguration-mass-arrest-of-protesters-journalists-a-throwback-with-a-familiar-face-attorneys-say

Pandamonium! https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/local/wp/2017/01/25/missing-sunny-the-red-panda-from-a-zoo-in-virginia/?tid=sm_tw&utm_term=.2d2e15f0e78f https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/local/wp/2017/01/25/missing-sunny-the-red-panda-from-a-zoo-in-virginia/?tid=sm_tw&utm_term=.2d2e15f0e78f

D'aw. http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2017/01/meet_the_soda_pop_puppies_saved_from_death_now_warming_laps_across_central_new_y.html#incart_river_home http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2017/01/meet_the_soda_pop_puppies_saved_from_death_now_warming_laps_across_central_new_y.html#incart_river_home