G+ Migration Blog

The pumpkin successfully acquired Sunday morning, after cleaning off the dirt.

Dinner Saturday night. The menu called these "loaded fries". Really, they should be called Korean poutine. It is fries covered with Korean barbecue beef, kim chee, pickled cucumbers, a mayonnaise hot sauce, some herbs, and a fried egg. Sort of a cross between bulgogi and bibimbop on fries. It is deelishuss.

Dinner from Friday night. Stress eating? Never. Pumpkin spice ice cream with chocolate and (candy) cinnamon sauce, pecans, and real high fat whipped cream.

Not sure what your evenings are like this week, but thought would see if can catch up with either of you Wed/Thu. I figure people are busy for sure, otherwise.

Apparently, my sister decided we are going to a pumpkin patch this morning to pick a pumpkin, have donuts, and cider, coming home, showering, getting dressed, going to Detroit for lunch and the DSO concert, and then maybe seeing Spirited Away. Although, I am pretty sure I will be ded before seeing a movie on top of everything else. We are leaving now for the pumpkin patch. This is oddly energetic for the early morning for my sister. Anyway, I need to touch base with all of you to see if/when I can catch up with you guys while I am around this week. Seemingly I will be following up on that later today. P.S. It is suddenly cold and fall.

documentation discussed bush and tree trimming with mother, only mother other than apricot trees discussed with dad. in fact, checked twice re what she wanted with bushes. tree person here same day as plumber (monday am 16th). Told her after that that would send estimate and then could set up time. only discussed with dad that apricots needed to be trimmed in winter or spring, not fall. estimate apparently arrived yesterday (thurs 26)in mail. dad told mom fri am 27 and mom went on about how nobody talked to her and I must have talked to him and how people don't talk to her just him and so on. the only person I discussed the bushes and drievway tree trimming with was mom. she was told about the person coming to look, and even was concerned because of emerg plumber coming that same morning. told her after visit that same mon morning would get estimate in about week and would set up time after that. she acknowledged. either she completely forgot this fast that I had spoken to her mult...

Hey. I am d-o-n-e. It hit me half an hour ago. Not in a condition to do hangout or anything. I need to go to bed. I will text tomorrow night or post or something?

I mean, obviously. #sarcasm (Headline: All of the women who have accused Trump of sexual harassment are lying, the White House says) https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/10/27/all-of-the-women-who-have-accused-trump-of-sexual-harassment-are-lying-the-white-house-says/?utm_term=.b61fff547289 https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/10/27/all-of-the-women-who-have-accused-trump-of-sexual-harassment-are-lying-the-white-house-says/?utm_term=.b61fff547289

Shoulda just paid for the beer, dude. http://www.wisconsinrapidstribune.com/story/news/2017/10/26/man-locked-beer-cooler-stays-and-has-drinks/803184001/ http://www.wisconsinrapidstribune.com/story/news/2017/10/26/man-locked-beer-cooler-stays-and-has-drinks/803184001/

I can't even with this. https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/10/27/bob-mcnair-inmates-protests-texans-player-reaction-richard-sherman https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/10/27/bob-mcnair-inmates-protests-texans-player-reaction-richard-sherman

So, barring something unforeseen, I will be in Detroit and environs as of Saturday night. The deal is that my sister and I will be going to the Star Wars and other space geek related music DSO concert on Sunday pm, hence the probably having lunch beforehand RFI. Not really sure about other details, but I intend to stay there and try to visit and stuff thru Wed or maybe Thu. Hopefully, I will get to darken many of your doorways. It is Halloween, after all. #detroit #minidfs #darkfriendcentral

- mildly locked - Fact based rant - incoming. Know what's wrong with Whitecloaks and zealots? Their absolute certainty in themselves and their cause. And their total lack of insight, compassion, or empathy. I'm not getting into a fight on here, hence the locking, but in case a certain someone would like some actual information, psych as a specialty has one of the lowest reported burnout rates. Further, when oncologists do get burned out, it is among the most severe cases. Insofar as causes of burnout, "compassion fatigue", iow having to deal with death/loss and so on is one of the least significant. Meaning all that nonsense about dealing with dead and dying patients is not a significant contributor, so don't pat yourself on the back just yet. In addition, burnout rates continue to increase across all specialties . All of them. Lastly, speaking of people who don't recognize their own privilege, the rate of burnout is significantly higher among women, across t...

ಠ_ಠ http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/10/26/560210230/winner-of-high-school-golf-tournament-denied-trophy-because-shes-a-girl http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/10/26/560210230/winner-of-high-school-golf-tournament-denied-trophy-because-shes-a-girl

This is totally wrong of me, but all I can hear is Mira Sorvino in "Romy & Michele's High School Reunion". I'm having trouble with seeing her, as well. So, basically, I feel like this is Romy makes Robots, which is wrong, because no way could Romy make a robot. Also, the person who makes these videos is, I think, a tad bit beyond the whole Romy & Michele thing. Anyway, it's funny, and she's raising money for hurricane victims in PR. It also seems she is now perhaps willing to eat pumpkin soup? Many wins. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=328&v=ab47XHidvwQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=328&v=ab47XHidvwQ

There's a lot of important information in this article, but I'm going to highlight one particular thing: Animals consume a large proportion of antibiotics - as much as 80% in the US Yep. We're being more restrictive in using antibiotics in people, but we're dumping them all over in agriculture. Why? At least in part because of large scale, close quarters, factory farming and processing of animals. Hello, wide-spread resistance. NB: It isn't made explicit, although the info is there. Penicillin was discovered in 1928. It didn't make it into clinical use until 1945. That's 17 years. That's why the writer talks about issues with research and funding. We've never managed to change the 10-20 years of research and trials that are needed for this, and that's for the ones that make it. Lots of things fall by the wayside in that time. Pharma companies (and VCs and other investors and stockholders, etc.) want to make money now . Society needs to consider w...

Fun with science! (Actual headline: Don Paul on "polygons" and why they've been a big help for local lake-effect snow forecasts.) http://buffalonews.com/2017/10/26/don-paul-narrowing-down-lake-effect-warnings/?utm_medium=more_stories http://buffalonews.com/2017/10/26/don-paul-narrowing-down-lake-effect-warnings/?utm_medium=more_stories

Those of you knowledgeable about Detroit, especially the area around where the Detroit Symphony plays, I can haz question. Do you have any suggestions, recommendations, warnings about places to eat lunch in that area? I am perusing online but figure some of you might have eaten down there, or heard some inside dish. K thx.

Cultural influences that have a critical and still primarily negative role in why men harass women: religion. Many varieties of major religions still teach that it is women's responsibility to deal with both their own bodies and men's apparently uncontrollable sex drive. Women should cover up ("modesty"), women should do what men tell them in everything - not just sex. Virginity is still a thing in many religions - but only for women. It's like a prize that men should compete for, but women should be constantly denying them. That's a healthy construct. And all of this applies to Christian denominations right here in the supposedly advanced West. It's nice for us to look all shocked at 'those other people', but they are not different in this regard. If women are second class, and property, and the vessels of men's immorality, and this is taught to children, how do you expect people to behave as adults?

http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/10/25/556673640/scientists-work-to-overcome-legacy-of-tuskegee-study-henrietta-lacks http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/10/25/556673640/scientists-work-to-overcome-legacy-of-tuskegee-study-henrietta-lacks

Good. I do think that it is misinformed to say that no one hunts them for food, as the indigenous peoples still hunt whatever they traditionally hunted, and I'm pretty sure that's why that exception is there. They should be allowed to use all the parts of the bear, as well. I am not certain what to say about the fact that there are outfitters who would have made good money off trophy hunting trips, therefore, there is a negative economic impact for them, but I am in favor of this ban. http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/08/15/543703415/british-columbia-will-ban-grizzly-bear-trophy-hunting http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/08/15/543703415/british-columbia-will-ban-grizzly-bear-trophy-hunting

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/10/25/560090783/-15-500-reward-offered-after-endangered-wolf-shot-dead?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=npr&utm_medium=social&utm_term=nprnews http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/10/25/560090783/-15-500-reward-offered-after-endangered-wolf-shot-dead?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=npr&utm_medium=social&utm_term=nprnews

Corollary to that other NPR piece, some basic info on going out in the wilderness. I note that he did not say you should not go alone, which is something I was taught, but mostly yeah. On his other points: - Make sure your flashlight or headlamp has batteries that work. - I'd specify hat, sunscreen, bug spray, and proper sunglasses in that prepare for where you're going list. - I'd add that proper socks in your proper footwear are a big one, as well. - Finally, I'd add bring any critical medications you need either in an emergency or on a daily basis. You may need them if you get stuck somewhere. http://www.npr.org/2017/10/25/560006625/10-tips-to-stay-safe-in-the-wild http://www.npr.org/2017/10/25/560006625/10-tips-to-stay-safe-in-the-wild

Not super awesome. http://www.npr.org/2017/10/25/559987030/more-americans-head-into-the-wild-unprepared-for-the-wild http://www.npr.org/2017/10/25/559987030/more-americans-head-into-the-wild-unprepared-for-the-wild

Headline: "Parts of Niger and Mali are already lawless. U.S. strategy might make it worse." This is so not the WH/administration to deal with this. “If U.S. troops in the area are allowed to go for more aggressive rules of engagement, then the question is who are they going to shoot at?” said Yvan Guichaoua, a professor at the University of Kent who specializes in political conflict in the Sahel, a region hugging the Sahara's southern fringes that includes Niger and Mali. “Answering 'the Islamic State' is not going to help. Jihadi militancy in the area has multiple forms.” “Targeting these groups is the best way to make their leaders heroes, foster unity in jihadi ranks, and inflame communal violence,” said Guichaoua. “All policymakers working in the area know well the highly inflammable nature of the situation.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/10/23/parts-of-niger-and-mali-are-already-lawless-u-s-strategy-might-make-it-worse/?utm_term=.9bc5...

Couple of interesting articles about the issues with Iraq and the Kurds. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-kurds-oil-insight/fear-of-iranian-general-left-iraqi-kurdish-oil-fields-deserted-idUSKBN1CU2CM http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-kurds-oil-insight/fear-of-iranian-general-left-iraqi-kurdish-oil-fields-deserted-idUSKBN1CU2CM

This should be fun. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-airlines-security/airlines-get-ready-for-new-u-s-security-rules-from-thursday-idUSKBN1CT2GE http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-airlines-security/airlines-get-ready-for-new-u-s-security-rules-from-thursday-idUSKBN1CT2GE

yaaaay http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-fcc-media/fcc-to-loosen-tv-newspaper-ownership-rules-idUSKBN1CU2TD?il=0 http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-fcc-media/fcc-to-loosen-tv-newspaper-ownership-rules-idUSKBN1CU2TD?il=0

I don't know what old movie this is from, but you get to see him playing the piano, so that's pretty cool. #waybackwednesday #itsacryingshame https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbfMlk1PwGU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbfMlk1PwGU

Do we really have to explain? Again? Mr. Brown said he had commented on attendees’ appearances because he saw the people before the event “and they were all dirty and grungy, and when we walked in, they were all dressed to the nines; they looked great.” Like, omg! They were all dirty and stuff! Gross! (Honestly, people, natives, idgi.) Look, they clean up! Who knew? Does that brown stuff come off? ~>:( Mr. Brown said his comment to a female server that she could make a lot money in the service industry in the United States was intended as a compliment because she was doing “a great job,” So, you didn't watch "Downton Abbey", then. Hey, you are a great cook! I need new staff! I will pay you American dollars! Seriously? You really don't get why you should have just said thanks so much for the amazing service? Maybe asked her about herself and and her life, if you cared? I mean, I get that you didn't, but, you know, for appearance' sake. No? Just my, what nice...

Oh, good. Mom bottomed out her car. New twist in the sagas. Dad has it at the dealer for fixings. Let the dance of the coordinating transport begin.

Linked for the word "Bogus". Also used in the article. #totally80s https://gizmodo.com/geostorms-weather-control-tech-is-exceptionally-bogus-1819783644 https://gizmodo.com/geostorms-weather-control-tech-is-exceptionally-bogus-1819783644

Shoutout to Detroit! https://www.metrotimes.com/the-scene/archives/2017/10/24/lonely-planet-names-detroit-top-destination-for-2018 https://www.metrotimes.com/the-scene/archives/2017/10/24/lonely-planet-names-detroit-top-destination-for-2018

We are number one, we are number one! http://www.travelandleisure.com/americas-favorite-places/friendliest-cities http://www.travelandleisure.com/americas-favorite-places/friendliest-cities

I can't find any unimpeachable sources on this, but apparently some of the propaganda in Iraq is that Iran helped prevent the formation of a "second Israel" by pushing back against an independent Kurdistan and taking Kirkuk? I mean, it's not beyond possibility that Israel may be buying oil from the Kurds, or maybe somehow doing whatever it does in terms of intelligence and what not all over the middle east. But wow. Iraq would rather let Iran have a toe hold than let the Kurds have any independence? That's messed up. And a major problem for us, if Iraq decides to cozy up to Iran.

Well, ok then. As the balloons drifted towards the inversion layer of the atmosphere - where the temperature rises - he said the flight started to accelerate very quickly. "I had to keep my cool and start gradually cutting the balloons." No problem. http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bristol-41737642 http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bristol-41737642

I feel like the time is ripe for someone to write a book called "Profiles in Discourage". Maybe with some strict factual accuracy and criticism.

It's open access week! https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/oct/23/stephen-hawkings-expanding-universes-thesis-breaks-the-internet https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/oct/23/stephen-hawkings-expanding-universes-thesis-breaks-the-internet

Hey, Detroit people. Are you around the beginning of the week next week? Or, next week at all, really?

I ... just ... #family #mylife

Women are shamed, told they are uptight, nasty, bitter, can’t take a joke, are too sensitive. And the men? Well, if they’re lucky, they might get elected President. https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/all-the-other-harveys https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/all-the-other-harveys

I missed this earlier. Wow. Read the link to the letter, it's special. Check the organizations these people belong to. It's a real who's who list of far right ideologues. I'm sure SPLC occasionally gets something wrong. It's human, we all do. But this is a real prize for corkscrew logic. tl;dr Dear media, please don't listen to SPLC. They're mean. They called us names. Here's a hint or two, FRC and friends: 1) Violence has been done in the name of what you teach. At some point, it's not enough to say 'but we didn't tell them to commit violence!' Violence is not the litmus test of hate. It is most certainly an almost inevitable consequence of it, but you are lying to yourself and everyone else if you think that "we're non-violent" is a get out of jail free card for supporting, encouraging, and teaching hate. Not to mention that some of you are all over the whole "just war" thing when it suits you and for your purpos...

- locked - What has it been, 30 seconds since my last #mompost? Maybe this is totally irrational and makes no sense to anyone else. I don't think so, but you never know. She went in my room and and went in my stuff. And then went and asked my dad about stuff I had written down about him. I mean, it's not like it was in a locked box. Because it's MY FUCKING ROOM. I swear to god if it wasn't a complete waste of my time and energy, I would start deliberately leaving things around to mess with her, just to show her what an emotionally ill idiot she's being. Or getting some small electronics and booby trapping stuff. And secretly video taping her. And maybe audio recording her. Selfish, self-centered, disrespectful, boundary violating witch. Jesus fucking christ.

Am toying with "nope".

For something that nobody really ever talked about before, the Great Smog of 1952 has gotten a whole lot more attention recently. http://www.npr.org/2017/10/17/558316674/death-in-the-air-revisits-5-days-when-london-was-choked-by-poisonous-smog http://www.npr.org/2017/10/17/558316674/death-in-the-air-revisits-5-days-when-london-was-choked-by-poisonous-smog

After you saved the goats and the doggy, how could you end on that note about the cat?! Now I can't even be happy for the goats and the doggy :( http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/10/17/558173605/amid-the-horrors-of-wildfire-a-tale-of-survival-and-singed-whiskers http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/10/17/558173605/amid-the-horrors-of-wildfire-a-tale-of-survival-and-singed-whiskers

There is something really wrong with this guy and there are a lot of questions. Not least of which is why is it that we never hear from Caitlin Coleman, his wife, and only from him? https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/10/14/after-a-lifetime-in-captivity-the-children-of-joshua-boyle-and-caitlan-coleman-begin-to-heal.html https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/10/14/after-a-lifetime-in-captivity-the-children-of-joshua-boyle-and-caitlan-coleman-begin-to-heal.html

They finally found him. (Unbelievable. Pence couldn't possibly have known who he was or cared at all. Way to be an opportunistic political weasel.) http://buffalonews.com/2017/10/17/missing-buffalo-police-divers-body-recovered/ http://buffalonews.com/2017/10/17/missing-buffalo-police-divers-body-recovered/

What the actual what, not just on the video, but the rationalization. Icewt. http://www.sltrib.com/news/education/2017/10/17/video-of-utah-high-school-students-chanting-racial-slur-being-investigated-by-district/ http://www.sltrib.com/news/education/2017/10/17/video-of-utah-high-school-students-chanting-racial-slur-being-investigated-by-district/

I don't care if it's policy or not. It is respectful to be silent and not make this about you. (There usually are policies about making noise during takeoff, landing, taxiing because they want passengers to be able to hear crew instructions if there's an emergency.) And whatever you claim, you are making this about you. You posted a video about you . You talked about how you felt. You used the history of your husband and family being in the military as a rationalization for you wanting to feel like you were part of the action bringing that soldier home. Look at me, I am honoring the fallen soldier! And now you are appearing all over television and the internet. Not to mention demanding that everyone feel badly for you because you wanted to whip up a plane full of people, whom you claim mostly wanted this at your instigation. Maybe they did, maybe they didn't, but it's an airplane and no one could get away if they were not comfortable. Would you say something if yo...

Recently, I had reason to make a cake. So I made an apricot almond dacquoise. Dacquoise is just meringue layers with ground nuts in. In this case, almonds. I still have apricot jam I made from our trees, and wanted to do things with it, so I thought this could be an interesting way to use the jam. I made the meringue layers, let them dry, coated them with a thin layer of melted dark chocolate, let them dry. I drained the apricot jam overnight in a sieve to get rid of any excess moisture, rather than cooking it down because I didn't want any caramelizing that would change the taste or color. I crushed up amaretti, and I made the stabilized whipped cream. I noticed when I was whipping the cream that it seemed oddly watery, which is a thing that can happen more commonly in the spring when what the cows are eating has higher water content. Never expected it in the fall. It made it harder to whip. I should have taken this as a hint and let it drain in a sieve, even with the gelatin (whi...

I am very amused by this. There are legitimately many scientific questions that need answering, still, about transfusion and all the random stuff that floats around in blood. Meanwhile, men shouldn't be so keen on getting women pregnant. It turns out our entire bodies then become a weapon primed for your destruction. I may be overstating this for humorous effect. Besides, statistics are all gobbledygook, anyway, right? [from a paper abstract] Question Is there an association between red blood cell transfusion from female donors with and without a history of pregnancy and recipient mortality? Findings In this cohort study that included 31,118 patients who received red blood cell transfusions, receipt of a transfusion from an ever-pregnant female donor was associated with a statistically significant increase in all-cause mortality among male recipients of red blood cell transfusions (hazard ratio, 1.13) but not among female recipients (hazard ratio, 0.99). Meaning Receipt of re...

Can't disapprove of the license plate.

Not a surprise, if true. Not seeing the upside, here, Iraq. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/10/isil-capitalises-peshmerga-retreat-northern-iraq-171017105453523.html http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/10/isil-capitalises-peshmerga-retreat-northern-iraq-171017105453523.html

I feel like many of you will find this story relatable. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41651046 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41651046

I have done some stuff. There are still things that need doing, but I have done some stuff.

The liquid properties of cats. http://fatcatart.ru/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Dali-The-Persistence-of-Memory-cat.jpg

Lol. https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/my-fat-ginger-cat-rewrote-art-history-and-became-a-mews-to-great-artists__880.jpg

It cracks me up how they always look like they are smiling. https://www.sunnyskyz.com/blog/2282/This-Little-Hedgehog-Went-Camping-And-It-s-The-Cutest-Thing-Ever https://www.sunnyskyz.com/blog/2282/This-Little-Hedgehog-Went-Camping-And-It-s-The-Cutest-Thing-Ever

Gigantic heirloom apples. Baseball for size.

I'm just straight up crying. Fuzzy wuzzy Mountain doggy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrrEuRU8RwU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrrEuRU8RwU

Great. Austria could have a coalition government that includes the latest incarnation of nazism (the FPO). http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/10/austria-elections-sebastian-kurz-ovp-leads-vote-171015150949205.html http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/10/austria-elections-sebastian-kurz-ovp-leads-vote-171015150949205.html

I guess some crazy weather front is coming through. It's been in the mid to upper 70's all morning, and even though the wind warning was supposed to kick in later, it's already pretty gusty out there and some tree branches are down. This pm is supposed to become rain and high winds and then temps in the 50s, along with a precipitous drop in barometric pressure. It's like the weather can't decide if it's summer or fall.

This. https://www.vox.com/identities/2017/10/15/16438750/weinstein-sexual-harassment-facts https://www.vox.com/identities/2017/10/15/16438750/weinstein-sexual-harassment-facts

Let me help with some of this: 1) If you are suddenly going to have ethics, you have to kick out Cosby and Polanski, as well. If this means you're going to have to kick yourselves out, as well, then this is a hint that you people ALL need to make a radical change asap. 2) There is and there isn't a difference between "just abuse" and assault and rape. Rape is a specific form of violence, particularly though not exclusively aimed at women. It is criminal and should be treated as such. It's not that hard, folks. When they say assault here, I presume they are being very narrow and talking about sexual assault. It doesn't matter. If it meets qualifications to be charged under criminal statues, see above. If it doesn't meet prosecution standards, see following re: abuse. Further, all violent, threatening, and abusive behavior is traumatic and is abuse. I know what the writer is trying to do, but they are wrong. Verbal abuse is real. Emotional abuse is real. Men...

There goes that "science". Cats are social animals, actual news at 11. http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/10/11/557191886/pumas-are-not-such-loners-after-all http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/10/11/557191886/pumas-are-not-such-loners-after-all

A happy twist, in the end. http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/10/13/557652159/jeremy-the-lonely-left-twisting-snail-dies-but-knows-love-before-the-end http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/10/13/557652159/jeremy-the-lonely-left-twisting-snail-dies-but-knows-love-before-the-end

I feel like that scene in Monty Python's Meaning of Life where the Protestant is mocking the Catholics constantly having children, which is part of what keeps them poor. Except the point of that scene is that it is because of rigid and unscientific religious dogma that the Catholics can't use condoms as birth control. (That, and apparently the Protestants never have sex. Well, they have two children.) Not because a supposedly secular government pulled funding so no one can have condoms. I am so sick of this tyranny of the minority. http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2017/10/14/555863044/u-s-slashes-funds-for-family-planning-in-madagascar http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2017/10/14/555863044/u-s-slashes-funds-for-family-planning-in-madagascar

About that terrorist in Asheville ... http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/10/13/557629826/suspect-in-would-be-airport-bombing-nabbed-with-help-from-rei http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/10/13/557629826/suspect-in-would-be-airport-bombing-nabbed-with-help-from-rei

http://www.npr.org/2017/10/14/557821266/sword-swallower-makes-triumphant-return-as-he-battles-severe-health-issues http://www.npr.org/2017/10/14/557821266/sword-swallower-makes-triumphant-return-as-he-battles-severe-health-issues

This is very bad. Afaik, they haven't found him, and that means if they find him at this point, he isn't likely to be alive. It's bizarre, too, because one of the people we see every week at a stand at the Farmers Market is a friend of his and was talking about it with a retired officer this morning. The rescue team trains in this location regularly. It's right where I was taking pictures of fireworks July 1 by the Peace Bridge. The Niagara River is a dangerous place, and the rescue team trains to both save people or to recover them, or evidence that's been thrown in. It's got crazy, strong currents, and all sorts of debris, with lousy visibility. I mean, any time I walk there, I'm thinking it would be suicidal to fall in. Not as morbid as it sounds - the pier is very long, and not terribly wide. It creates a canal alongside the river, but that is also part of what creates crazy currents and debris issues. Not to mention there are water discharges and pass t...

And the Cardinal is completely innocent in all of this. Sure. Prince of the church, indeed. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-vatican-hospital-verdict/ex-president-of-vatican-hospital-convicted-of-abuse-of-office-idUSKBN1CJ0I2?il=0 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-vatican-hospital-verdict/ex-president-of-vatican-hospital-convicted-of-abuse-of-office-idUSKBN1CJ0I2?il=0

Must ... do ... things ...

This. (Trigger warning for rape and violence.) Trauma is complex, and power dynamics are real. https://www.vox.com/first-person/2017/10/13/16465064/harvey-weinstein-rape-allegations-asia-argento https://www.vox.com/first-person/2017/10/13/16465064/harvey-weinstein-rape-allegations-asia-argento

It was hard to read through these, I find it genuinely upsetting and way too close to home. There were a couple of things that caught my eye, though. Don McPherson's statements that "... we don't raise boys to be men, we raise them not to be women, and ""What's the worst insult you heard as a boy?" The answer: "You throw like a girl!"" And Penn Jillete's whole piece about his daughter. Personally, if he named his daughter Moxie, he's already doing something more insightful than average. I don't think it's her job to "fix" anything, but yeah, she could become the greatest magician in the world. Period. I get asked a bunch, "Is your son into magic?" He couldn't care less. I have never been asked, "Is your daughter into magic?" My daughter, Moxie, is into magic and is working her way through Teller's favorite book, "The Royal Road to Card Magic." Her little hands do a good clea...

Day x in a series y of #donwanna.

Nooooo! http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-41608722 http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-41608722

I mean, it's kind of poignant. http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-41608350 http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-41608350

He has others, but this is one of my favorite of his Friday the 13th ones. http://www.savagechickens.com/2006/10/another-friday-13th.html http://www.savagechickens.com/2006/10/another-friday-13th.html

"Gobbledygook". Wow. Ok. That's great. I'd love to believe he was going to take up the Sociologists on their offer to help him understand the "gobbledygook". But I don't think he wants to. Maybe Kennedy will listen. http://www.asanet.org/news-events/asa-news/asa-president-eduardo-bonilla-silva-responds-chief-justice-john-roberts https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/10/12/16464188/john-roberts-sociological-gobbledygook-eduardo-bonilla-silva-gerrymandering https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/10/12/16464188/john-roberts-sociological-gobbledygook-eduardo-bonilla-silva-gerrymandering

This is pathetic BS. If you can't win a game team to team because you outplayed each other on the field, you don't deserve to win. If you want to play with psychological gamesmanship, you can do that on the field, as well. Risking people's health is stupid and unnecessary. It's not a question of being "tough or spoiled". Anybody who plays that game is a psychological abuser. And no, well I had to do it and it made me a man! is definitely not a rational or logical justification. http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/20918212/visiting-locker-rooms-college-football-nice-reason http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/20918212/visiting-locker-rooms-college-football-nice-reason

Most of you probably know that Oct. 3 the House passed a 20-week abortion ban [ https://www.vox.com/identities/2017/10/3/16401826/abortion-ban-pain-capable-unborn-child-protection-act ]. This is a story from a married mother that ban would have condemned and possibly killed. Edit: a white, employed, married mother. Trigger Warning, both for disturbing content and disturbing photos. The link is hugely disturbing and deeply upsetting, and it should be. I'm saying this, though, because I do not want to trigger anyone . That's why I removed all the photos from showing up in this post. You'll only see them in the article that's linked. This is a mother's story about finding out the baby she wanted had something terribly wrong in utero. Something that was definitely not going to go well for the fetus, and had a real possibility of doing something terrible to the mom. We have modern medical science and procedures precisely so that people in this situation have options. Opt...

Thank you Emma Thompson. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/oct/12/emma-thompson-harvey-weinstein-no-sex-addict-predator https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/oct/12/emma-thompson-harvey-weinstein-no-sex-addict-predator

It matters, but wow. Way to take too long. http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/10/12/557399388/four-decades-later-south-african-court-rules-that-activist-was-murdered http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/10/12/557399388/four-decades-later-south-african-court-rules-that-activist-was-murdered

This'll be interesting. One person with pneumonic plague on an airplane that could have held over 250 people for about 1.5 hours. It doesn't say whether he was symptomatic on the flight. There's an extremely short incubation period for pneumonic plague - 1-3 days post exposure (up to a week, depending on the source you read). At least that suggests it will be known fairly quickly whether anyone else caught it from him. Seychelles seems to have a very active response, as well. They isolated him and cultured him immediately, with confirmatory cultures sent to Institut Pasteur (I assume the main one in Paris, but they have other locations that may have been much closer). They did contact tracing, they've got some people essentially quarantined for observation, they've got some on prophylactic antibiotics, and they're putting in more isolation units at the main hospital, just in case. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/seychelles-reports-plague-case-linked-mada...

Now this is a useful news story. #sonkies https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/12/health/condoms-penis-size.html https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/12/health/condoms-penis-size.html

This is legit terrifying. They could really use some rain. I wish we could just send some. http://abcnews.go.com/US/31-dead-horrific-california-wildfires-hundreds-missing/story?id=50383162 http://abcnews.go.com/US/31-dead-horrific-california-wildfires-hundreds-missing/story?id=50383162

Today, in news of the obvious. https://www.wired.com/story/photo-gallery-pervasive-tv-news/ https://www.wired.com/story/photo-gallery-pervasive-tv-news/

Ophelia is confused, but that's ok. I think we've had enough for a while on this side of the Atlantic. http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/12/world/hurricane-ophelia-ireland/index.html http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/12/world/hurricane-ophelia-ireland/index.html

Read b/c of some links to his stuff elsewhere. My gosh, he's grumpy! http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a12781302/democrats-alabama-mississippi-progressives/ http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a12781302/democrats-alabama-mississippi-progressives/

I know it may have happened in the past, but it really feels like this Congress, and it's previous 8+ years of existence, has been nothing but how to be obstructionist to achieve totalitarian rule by one party. The GOP is so busy trying to force an undemocratic, unrepublican tyranny of their rule on the country, they aren't governing it. They're the ones who blocked all those judicial nominees for 8 years! Our government is supposed to try to balance the interests of majorities and minorities. That's why we have a House and a Senate, for crying out loud. How is this the party of Lincoln, again? http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/354955-senators-battle-over-trumps-court-nominees http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/354955-senators-battle-over-trumps-court-nominees

Trump doesn't have to do anything. It's being done for and by people with much better deliberation and focus than he has. In fact, he's almost incidental. If one news organization has control over reaching 3/4 of US households, they will effectively function as a propaganda arm of the side they seem to be on. Right now, that side finds Trump useful. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/sinclair-broadcasting-puts-partisan-tilt-trusted-local-news/ http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/sinclair-broadcasting-puts-partisan-tilt-trusted-local-news/

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/10/10/557027903/utah-officer-fired-for-arrest-of-nurse-recorded-on-video http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/10/10/557027903/utah-officer-fired-for-arrest-of-nurse-recorded-on-video

I can't hear this song without thinking of Terry Gilliam's Brazil . Particularly the final torture scene. And that's just one of the cultural references that this timeline reminds me of. #waybackwednesday He's got away from us. I'm afraid you're right. He's gone. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZshIb5IJQU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZshIb5IJQU

The GMO apple that won't brown when you cut it is in the news again. It probably won't hurt anything, but what exactly is the purpose of polyphenol oxidase in the fruit? It's pretty rare that things in nature serve no purpose. So why is it there? Because we don't like the taste, texture, and color of oxidation of our fruits and veggies, there's been a lot of research on how to keep this from happening, which is how we get the Arctic apple. But it turns out it may have other functions besides defense, and maybe it does or doesn't need this specific defense mechanism. It may function in the immune system of insects. It is part of the process of fermenting tea - which is how you get a lot of types of tea. Here's an article from 2014 about polyphenols in plants: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4294140/ The apple itself has an interesting and reasonable explanation page: https://www.arcticapples.com/how-did-we-make-nonbrowning-apple/ They seem to sug...

I suspect this is not as "fun" as this review makes it sound, but probably also worth reading. Possibly even necessary reading. http://www.npr.org/2017/10/09/556571413/collection-puts-a-playful-pulpy-twist-on-preposterous-stories-about-obama http://www.npr.org/2017/10/09/556571413/collection-puts-a-playful-pulpy-twist-on-preposterous-stories-about-obama

Making Gourds Great Again. It was the biggest, the best. It was HUGE. http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/10/10/556896155/green-squash-deemed-worlds-biggest-brings-triple-win-to-r-i-grower?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=2037 http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/10/10/556896155/green-squash-deemed-worlds-biggest-brings-triple-win-to-r-i-grower?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=2037

http://pagesix.com/2017/10/10/terry-crews-details-alleged-sexual-assault-by-high-level-hollywood-exec/ http://pagesix.com/2017/10/10/terry-crews-details-alleged-sexual-assault-by-high-level-hollywood-exec/

So you're going to come up with an anti-police brutality and anti-racial profiling and anti-racism platform for the NFL? I mean, that would be great ... lol. Btw, how many NFL team owners are rich white men? Just wondering. #rhetorical http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000859541/article/goodell-issues-memo-to-teams-on-national-anthem http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000859541/article/goodell-issues-memo-to-teams-on-national-anthem

I love how it's Hillary Clinton's fault that Harvey Weinstein is reprehensible. #news

There are always women who accept and excuse and even deny that anything happened. It was one of the things that would leave me completely stunned. I have never known what to say or do with that. At least this is just garden variety slut-shaming. By someone who dressed the sluts she's shaming. http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-41564931 http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-41564931

With all due respect, assuming you are due any talking head person, Corker has not "debased" himself in his statements and responses to Trump. He has made it clear that even a supporter of Trump can occasionally wake up and realize that the fat is in the fire and we are all gonna burn. If you think his expressions of concern are debasing, you have already been co-opted into the Trump world view. And that's part of the problem. Yes, the tweetshow is a distraction, and that's a lot of Trump's game all over - pay no attention to the man behind the curtain - but the point of Corker's tweets is both to do something that the president might actually read, as well as to give everybody else a heads-up that there are real concerns, and somebody needs to not only pay attention, but start taking deliberate, thoughtful, constructive and effective action. And take a freaking risk. Meanwhile, the GOP continues to cower and some talking heads are criticizing Corker.

You've got until October 17 to comment: https://www.epa.gov/bristolbay/2017-proposal-withdraw-proposed-clean-water-act-restrictions-mining-pebble-deposit#comment Gold mining is freaking toxic. If somebody can find science on somebody running a clean gold mine, I'd love to read about it. Hope you enjoy telling your grandchildren about eating sockeye salmon. And how there used to be grizzly bears, and eagles, and probably some orca. Otters eat 'em, so do osprey and other birds, sharks and other fish, seals and sea lions. I mean, nobody cares about local indigenous populations, or crazy white people who've gone native, so, whatever. Tourists can go elsewhere. There's tons of sustainable fisheries, the fishermen can just move. http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/10/politics/bristol-bay-salmon-invs/index.html http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/10/politics/bristol-bay-salmon-invs/index.html

I find it very disturbing that many of the things I have struggled with, that I struggled with all through my career, things which were one of many but significantly part of why I had to step away and try to figure out how to go forward - that so many of these things just need a few words rewritten to describe my and other's experiences. Transpose Hollywood for anywhere and everywhere, especially if men feel they are in power. Add money to that and it's gasoline on the fire. I am so upset by reading this stuff, because I can't quite keep myself detached from it. Yet it is helping, because these people have found ways to start putting words to things, to verbalize experiences that kind of choke your words and freeze your brain. Because, you know, none of this ever happens. Right? And you are always what was wrong in the situation, or you misunderstood, or misinterpreted. Or failed. If you weren't a failure, you wouldn't have any problems. Right? At least no one ever...

This will not make anything better about the Jemele Hill thing. But it is revealing about just how pervasive some attitudes are. They're just there - quiet, subconscious, until something like this stirs them up. For example, it is particularly bothersome to read someone comparing the use of "Chink" to "bigot" and "white supremacist". As if there is anything remotely consistent or equivalent between: a racial epithet, something subjective, laden with every possible ignorant assumption and stereotype, meant to demean and denigrate and invalidate, and the word bigot or phrase white supremacist. Both of which are descriptive nouns with clear definitions that can be supported or countered based on factual evidence. Neither of which has ever been used as a slur. She didn't call him a cracker, or a honky, or a gringo, or a round-eye, etc. Just in case that person, who isn't reading this, would like to know what might have been equivalent to "chin...

The question is: does ESPN have a detailed and clear policy and procedure on this? Is it brand new, or long-standing? Is there consistent application of the policy over time? Or did a woman, and a black woman at that, piss off the potus and potentially some wealthy white NFL owners, who may or may not be friends or at least people who donated to the potus's campaign/inaugural/whatever? I mean, really, don't women in general just need to sit down and be quiet? And we all know how loud black women are. (This may be both editorializing and some bitter, nasty sarcasm.) I'm pretty sure ESPN knew who Jemele Hill was when they hired her. Then again, maybe not. https://deadspin.com/espn-suspends-jemele-hill-two-weeks-for-no-good-reason-1819290405 https://deadspin.com/espn-suspends-jemele-hill-two-weeks-for-no-good-reason-1819290405

Somebody was having just a little too much fun with this story. Also, that headline is SO British. I'm amazed they didn't mention Wallace. http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-41566545 http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-41566545

SQUEE!!! They are going to release "Shada"! Douglas Adams, Tom Baker, K-9, what's not to like? http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-41556134 http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-41556134

I am disappointed that Trader Joe's has discontinued the seasonal Pumpkin Spice Chai mix (it was one of those dry powder chai things). However, I found their Pumpkin Scone Mix with Maple Flavored Icing. It is not, of course, anything like a British tea scone. However, it is reasonably tasty, acceptably textured, not overly wet or overly dry. After a taste check, I didn't use their icing mix. There's nothing wrong with it, but I want my maple to taste strongly like maple. I just used powdered sugar and mixed it with maple syrup. Worked great. I did feel like the scones needed some icing, but they'd probably be ok by themselves with some butter. Or pumpkin butter.

Potato picture of the very au courant humorous labeling at a local coffee house.

Someone must have given the committee a nudge. #nobelhumor https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/09/business/nobel-economics-richard-thaler.html https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/09/business/nobel-economics-richard-thaler.html

Already with the next episode of "As the White House Turns/The Rich and the Privileged". "Dynasty" and "Real Housewives" ain't got nuthin' on this. Maybe they're planning a spin-off - "Real Housewives of the White House"? She plans to use her title and role to help children, not sell books P.S. Ms. Grisham does know that First Ladies have been writing books for at least 100 years, right? Mrs. Hoover even translated Agricola's De Re Metallica into English with her husband, and published it, although that was before she was Flotus. Of course, she also got a degree in geology from Stanford in 1898. Your basic overachiever, really. P.P.S. Congratulations on giving Ivana exactly the publicity she was seeking. These people all just reek of class, really. Class and taste. http://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/09/melania-trump-ivana-first-lady-243609 http://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/09/melania-trump-ivana-first-lady-243609

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-41421406 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-41421406

Fuck you, Michigan and Judge Ross. http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2017/10/06/rape-victim-attacker-joint-child-custody/106374256/

I have had a weird playlist running through my day, today. Meghan Trainor, LunchMoney Lewis - "I love me" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hm2ThAWItqs Brigitte Boisjoli - "Je veux de la lumière" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thIww312I_k Rihanna - "Shut up and drive" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=up7pvPqNkuU

Oh, ok. Mom truly lost it over something incredibly asinine today. And, uh, wow. When your brain leaks out your mouth it is much more revealing than I think you really want it to be, no matter what you are thinking. Just, you know, a pro tip. It was a lovely opportunity for me to mention potential psych/mental effects of Lyme disease. And I did. And was promptly (and damned if it wasn't professionally, if there's a profession that does that) rationalized away. Dismissed. Erased. Irrelevantized. People have to want to get themselves help, y'all. If she wants a relationship with my father, she better stop hating him yesterday. Because it's actually coming out of her mouth, now, and it is bile. Black bile. Just, wow.

I have a suggestion for why the trend is reversed in developed countries. Nobody sees their friends, siblings, and other family members drop dead or left permanently disabled every single day. Not any more. So obviously, we can just stop bothering because it's not ever going to be a problem again. Like magic. And they say object permanence is supposed to be a problem only in babies and toddlers. http://www.bbc.com/news/health-41280113 http://www.bbc.com/news/health-41280113

Oh, hai, remnants of Nate. You may leave, now.

Only linking because this is where the quote is from. Man, does this quote feel familiar, and I've never worked in Hollywood. ... they all speak of the abusive thrill gained not from sex but from the imposition of your will on someone who has no ability to resist or defend themselves from you, an exertion of power on the powerless. https://www.thecut.com/2017/10/why-the-weinstein-sexual-harassment-allegations-came-out-now.html https://www.thecut.com/2017/10/why-the-weinstein-sexual-harassment-allegations-came-out-now.html