G+ Migration Blog

Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they're not out to get you. According to CNN’s sources, Kushner feels that the security clearance changes have been directed at him, and has asked colleagues, “Why is John Kelly doing this?” If the above is true, a) yes, dear, everything is all about you - including running the country, b) because occasionally, Kelly does his job and puts the country above personal or political garbage. I can't decide if this makes him whiny, clueless, narcissistic, or just not terribly smart? I mean, he has to know this is a power struggle. He keeps playing that game. He just appears to be losing this time. http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/376129-kushner-suspects-people-in-white-house-are-out-to-get-him-report http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/376129-kushner-suspects-people-in-white-house-are-out-to-get-him-report

They have sweaters and waggly tails. Omg, so cute. https://www.boredpanda.com/baby-goats-learn-jump-wear-sweaters/ https://www.boredpanda.com/baby-goats-learn-jump-wear-sweaters/

Definitely better than reality. #goats (Click eet, eet ees a video of goats jumping.) https://www.facebook.com/377382845617050/videos/1891383337550319/?utm_term=.tq6Krxxv https://www.facebook.com/377382845617050/videos/1891383337550319/?utm_term=.tq6Krxxv

Offsets to the usual misery: https://imgur.com/gallery/5nBYw https://imgur.com/gallery/5nBYw

There's a lot to discuss in here. Overall, yes, this is an issue. Something they don't mention is lawsuits. Sorry, lawyers, but some of your colleagues would be happy to help a different family sue for that same 87 year old lady not getting a defibrillator. Of course that sort of thing influences doctors and hospitals. And costs money and terrible stress and gets reported in databases, etc. Another issue is that we do not have and will probably never have an extensive set of evidence based data on people over 65. I mean, we are starting to see some studies on people over 65, but at most I expect our info to push up to maybe 75, nonetheless still incomplete. So it's very hard for doctors to have certain discussions about "the best, worst and most likely outcomes." In addition, our system does not provide such awesome post operative care and support. It assumes you have a personal support network. It argues about paying for help and support and rehab and transportat...

I have a hard time viewing this as something other than I guess we should have statues of Hitler and Stalin and Mussolini at WWII memorials. How about Cornwallis, or at least Benedict Arnold for the Revolutionary War?++ Seriously, the only reason to have a law in Virginia that forbids removing statues, and it has several statements specifically about Confederate ones, is that somebody is trying to put exceptional protection for Confederate monuments. Plus, this was a law passed in 1998, so it's not some long-standing thing. It's a pattern of trying to stop people from correcting this fantasy of the 'gracious antebellum south'. I suspect that this is also not the only way to interpret Virginia law, and there are probably other codes or statutes that could counter this nonsense about removing the covers. ++ I note the irony, as I presently live in a town named for Lord Amherst, one time Commander in Chief of the British Army and noted biological warfare experimenter. Howe...

I feel like it has to be said that It has been noted elsewhere that this is not just a muslim thing, not just a secret subset of muslim thing. It happens in many communities in many places all over the world. https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2018/02/28/589173639/a-secretive-sect-opens-a-debate-on-female-genital-mutilation https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2018/02/28/589173639/a-secretive-sect-opens-a-debate-on-female-genital-mutilation

Just curious - is this really a faster rate of turnover than in the past? Edit: Slightly different perspectives in NYT and WaPo. NYT is nicer. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/hope-hicks-says-she-lies-for-trump-thats-encouraging/2018/02/28/09e61982-1cc3-11e8-9de1-147dd2df3829_story.html?utm_term=.19f3fb71fc9c https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/28/us/politics/hope-hicks-resign-communications-director.html https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/28/us/politics/hope-hicks-resign-communications-director.html

Dick's stopped selling certain guns, Walmart raised the purchase age. Gotta say, I am not expecting anything from Bass/Cabela's, although they are somewhat protected by the fact that they are now the only large chain left that hasn't said something or changed their policies.

#nottheonion Yeah, they're "fringe", but what is going on in this country? A "church" with a seeming lot of members that owns an arms manufacturer? Stay the hell out of the Poconos, I guess? The Unification Church released a statement disavowing the event, the church and its theology. It called Hyung Jin’s church a “breakaway” movement ... they are making common cause with evangelicals, ... “evangelicals were the only religious group in which a plurality (40 percent) say that putting more emphasis on God and morality in school and society is the most important thing that could be done to prevent future mass shootings.” The Wednesday ceremony will follow a “President Trump Thank You Dinner” ... a fundraiser for the group Gun Owners of America. The dinner was co-sponsored by Kahr Arms, a weapons manufacturer owned by Moon’s brother, Justin. Kahr opened a 40,000-square-foot building in 2015 in the Poconos. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43231638 https://ww...

This is interesting. There's some hyperbolic media coverage (sigh), but it's another turn in a long standing concern about what do you consider when replacing fluid volume loss - osmolality, pH, ions??? If you've watched way too much MEDICAL DRAMA on television, or movies, the one thing you might have heard of is Ringer's Lactate that would be one of the many forms of "balanced fluids" rather than so-called normal saline (which is designed to match the osmolality of blood). Here's a link to the editorial statement about the 2 studies. I have to see about getting at the studies themselves: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe1800449 https://www.upi.com/Health_News/2018/02/28/Balanced-fluids-rather-than-saline-recommended-for-IVs/6471519827450/ https://www.upi.com/Health_News/2018/02/28/Balanced-fluids-rather-than-saline-recommended-for-IVs/6471519827450/

Since when do we honor religious leaders in our seat of government in this country? We don't do official religion in this country; there are some lines you should not cross. Considering my understanding of our Founding Fathers, this is egregious. Ugh, busted WaPo links - Billy Graham is lying in state in the Capitol ! Wtaf, Ryan and McConnell??? P.S. If he's technically Lying in Honor, which I can't find clarification on, it doesn't matter. It's the same thing and there's a religious leader in the Rotunda . Bad Congress, No Biscuit! https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/trump-congress-to-pay-respects-to-billy-graham-as-he-lies-in-honor-at-the-capitol/2018/02/28/b188b7ba-1c11-11e8-ae5a-16e60e4605f3_story.html?utm_term=.9b706b1d514f

Jessica Musinski alerted us to this wonderful new merchandising tie-in. Sadly, worse than the lack of green kryptonite in the Superman ice cream, I am not ok with the Wonder Woman Golden Lasso Twirl. Maybe those of you more expert in the minutiae of the genre can find an episode of a villain being twirled to their demise, but that one word undermines the hero and makes it pretty clear that this is the girl ice cream. At least they could have gone for a Golden Lasso Twist. A hero could totally leave a villain twisting in the wind. http://darkknightnews.com/2018/02/27/edys-releases-dc-superhero-themed-ice-cream/ http://darkknightnews.com/2018/02/27/edys-releases-dc-superhero-themed-ice-cream/

Parenting is not an intro level course. I applaud her for channeling her frustrations into cartooning that even points out that she knows not to act out herself, or do anything inappropriate. #gothefucktosleep https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/parent-as-a-verb-mommy-rage?google_editors_picks=true https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/parent-as-a-verb-mommy-rage?google_editors_picks=true

Ha ha ha, math. https://www.qwertee.com/product/you-shall-not-pass-256 https://www.qwertee.com/product/you-shall-not-pass-256

Truth. https://www.qwertee.com/product/people-irritate-me https://www.qwertee.com/product/people-irritate-me

Like we needed more clarity on this, but the end of this article is why no one should ever want to work with or for Trump. He is the worst kind of boss. Last Thursday, Mr. Sessions joined the president at the White House for a school safety round table with local leaders. Mr. Trump began the meeting by saying, “I also want to thank a really tremendous attorney general. He turned to the person seated next to him and added: “That’s Pam Bondi, from Florida.” Ms. Bondi is Florida’s state attorney general. https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-blasts-sessions-disgraceful-handling-of-justice-department-surveillance-probe-1519839815 https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-blasts-sessions-disgraceful-handling-of-justice-department-surveillance-probe-1519839815

Inspired by a different thread - Farfelkugel, the multilayered horse name joke in "Robin Hood, Men in Tights". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLtk_VfbKzU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLtk_VfbKzU

As the great Sulu might have said, "Oh, myyyyy!" (T&P = thoughts and prayers) https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=13&v=JDkHmQEOkYo https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=13&v=JDkHmQEOkYo

This is sounding like that case of the teacher who was arrested for speaking at a town meeting. Also? I'd like to know from a person knowledgeable about law stuff how this is even a reasonable argument (see quote below). Firstly, if they're about to bomb said building, you really think they're going to stop that van because one officer is there? They'll just go around his car, or run him down and head for the building anyway. At the least they'd detonate the van if they were stopped short of the building. The officer isn't going to get time to buy. Not to mention how do you not extrapolate that to driving while funny colored or wearing a funny hat so we just arrested them to make sure they weren't a terrorist? Lastly, how is this the equivalent of someone standing up at a public government meeting where they're entitled to speak? Isn't that the essence of free speech? Or is our right to participate in government and speak at such meetings not protect...

Like that's gonna stop Trump from saying whatever he wants to him. https://www.npr.org/2018/02/27/589280327/reports-kushner-security-clearance-downgraded-following-white-house-scandal https://www.npr.org/2018/02/27/589280327/reports-kushner-security-clearance-downgraded-following-white-house-scandal

O NOZ. All the drunk theater and music nerds got together and made a podcast. Be warned: they improvised them all . 😱 (Although "Best Friends Bring Bacon" to the tune of "O Come All Ye Faithful" in the "O Little Town of Doggywood" episode around 40:25 has some serious potential. Sung by beagle best friend brothers bearing bacon.) http://www.earwolf.com/show/off-book/ http://www.earwolf.com/show/off-book/

An overload of cute. The last one may be the best. https://imgur.com/gallery/Ub7qC https://imgur.com/gallery/Ub7qC

Have a cute. https://www.sunnyskyz.com/uploads/2018/02/wr1iz-sleeping-piglet-and-her-toy.jpg

The Olympics are over, but I did finally watch all of the Women's Free Skate, which all of you already probably discussed, but ... 1) Unless something has changed, judges have discretion and they knew they weren't giving Medvedeva enough of a win on non-technical marks when she won the free skate but lost the gold medal. I would have given her the win. 2) I've seen Zagitova skate this program many times, now, and she is exceptionally consistent but it is not an artistically balanced program and there's nothing much to interpret. It is music with jumps and spins. Beautiful, difficult, but just athletics. If that's the direction judges want the sport to go, be careful what they wish for. The perennial debate is raging once again in men's and women's figure skating. 3) Interesting commentary that the US did not change its internal judging to be consistent with the international judging until about 5 years after the fact. Also about coaching and other aspects of...

Oh, Ryan and E!, seriously? Note: trigger warning for descriptions of nonconsensual grabbing and other things. http://variety.com/2018/tv/news/ryan-seacrest-sexual-abuse-allegations-stylist-details-1202710460/ http://variety.com/2018/tv/news/ryan-seacrest-sexual-abuse-allegations-stylist-details-1202710460/

Why do I like McDonald's greasy sausage and egg biscuits and greasy hash brown patties? They're very unhealthy but sometimes I find them delicious. Why doesn't kale taste this delicious?

In case you were worried about that person spreading measles in NYC. #sarcasm Sadly, you can still buy the book. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanie%27s_Marvelous_Measles https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanie%27s_Marvelous_Measles

Interesting opinion. https://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/02/donald-trump-is-the-most-pure-conservative-president-ever.html https://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/02/donald-trump-is-the-most-pure-conservative-president-ever.html

Fun read. https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2018-02-23/you-can-t-have-denmark-without-danes https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2018-02-23/you-can-t-have-denmark-without-danes

And now for an adorable corgi puppy and a roomba ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZ5lfqqBjvg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZ5lfqqBjvg

Things Donald Trump and the NRA disagree with (granted Trump's opinion will move with Fox news or whoever is influencing him this week): As for putting weapons in schools, that’s a punk idea. More innocents would die. When the shooting starts, even the best-trained, most disciplined soldiers and cops — US Army Rangers or NYPD SWAT members — don’t put every round on target. The notion that a guard or teacher who goes to the range once a quarter would keep kids safe is profoundly divorced from reality. “Friendly fire” would simply add to the danger. https://nypost.com/2018/02/22/automatic-weapons-dont-belong-in-the-hands-of-everyone/ https://nypost.com/2018/02/22/automatic-weapons-dont-belong-in-the-hands-of-everyone/

We don't need no stinking well-regulated militia. https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/the-world-that-wayne-lapierre-and-donald-trump-live-in?google_editors_picks=true https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/the-world-that-wayne-lapierre-and-donald-trump-live-in?google_editors_picks=true

My sister is getting to see "The Dark Crystal" in a movie theater tonight. I am jealous. That is all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQ5_0CEXrf0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQ5_0CEXrf0

I might empathize a bit too much with the 10 year old, here, but the response gives me faith that all is not lost for humanity. https://www.sunnyskyz.com/good-news/2654/10-Year-Old-Girl-Feels-Dejected-After-Mom-039-s-Comment-Then-Twitter-Saves-The-Day https://www.sunnyskyz.com/good-news/2654/10-Year-Old-Girl-Feels-Dejected-After-Mom-039-s-Comment-Then-Twitter-Saves-The-Day

Are these things getting more common, or are we just paying more attention? https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2018/02/23/587719626/no-ones-quite-sure-why-lassa-fever-is-on-the-rise-in-nigeria?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20180224&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20180224 https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2018/02/23/587719626/no-ones-quite-sure-why-lassa-fever-is-on-the-rise-in-nigeria?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20180224&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20180224

Wow. We not only beat Canada, we won the gold! Another never in a million years happenstance in Men's Curling. https://www.npr.org/sections/thetorch/2018/02/24/588477615/u-s-mens-curling-takes-on-sweden-in-the-gold-medal-final https://www.npr.org/sections/thetorch/2018/02/24/588477615/u-s-mens-curling-takes-on-sweden-in-the-gold-medal-final

Even longer clip of otters. Omg, they're so cute! https://globalnews.ca/news/4044937/otters-snowballs-vancouver-aquarium/ https://globalnews.ca/news/4044937/otters-snowballs-vancouver-aquarium/

Freudian slip? I'm just gonna leave this here. Full headline: Former RNC chair responds to comment that he was only elected 'because he's a black guy' https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/24/politics/michael-steele-ian-walters/index.html https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/24/politics/michael-steele-ian-walters/index.html

This is just sad. She was hysterically funny in everything I saw her in and one of the best things about the whole movie of "Notting Hill" (she was Hugh Grant's character's sister). http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-43183354 http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-43183354

Does the NRA make a habit of handing out guns? To the chair of the FCC? Not buying the because he got death threats thing, either, because any number of people get those all the time and the NRA isn't backing them up. Any bets on whether they care if people who don't support the NRA get death threats? Yeah. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-internet/nra-honors-fcc-chair-with-rifle-for-repealing-net-neutrality-idUSKCN1G800N https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-internet/nra-honors-fcc-chair-with-rifle-for-repealing-net-neutrality-idUSKCN1G800N

Not your usual article about the Olympics. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/16/sports/olympics/johnny-weir-tara-lipinski.html https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/16/sports/olympics/johnny-weir-tara-lipinski.html

Surprise! https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/02/24/588537379/customs-agents-search-a-bus-near-paris-and-discover-a-stolen-degas-painting https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/02/24/588537379/customs-agents-search-a-bus-near-paris-and-discover-a-stolen-degas-painting

Article title: Politicians Are Praying for the Florida Shooting Victims. But Faith Without Works Is Dead. tl;dr - stop praying and start doing http://fortune.com/2018/02/23/thoughts-prayers-florida-parkland-school-shooting/?xid=gn_editorspicks&google_editors_picks=true http://fortune.com/2018/02/23/thoughts-prayers-florida-parkland-school-shooting/?xid=gn_editorspicks&google_editors_picks=true

Dialogue between me and another person: me: I'm thinking of ordering myself (food) from (restaurant), do you want anything? other person: I'll eat some. me: I'm ordering (X) for me, what would you like? other person: CLEARLY, I speak a language no one else in this house UNDERSTANDS! WHAT DID I JUST SAY!!! Sure, ok, I read minds. Feel free to have an uninformative hissy fit at me.

Nice snark about sending Ivanka to the Olympics: ... the president’s daughter is a “winter-sports enthusiast,” as an administration official put it, as heiresses who grew up skiing in Aspen tend to be. Lol

This is a four aunty face post. USCIS officials say the new mission statement reflects Cissna's focus on "fairness, lawfulness, efficiency, as well as protecting American workers and safeguarding the motherland fatherland homeland." (I may have added the crossed out bits.) What the hell does USCIS have to do with protecting American workers, anyway? https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/02/22/588097749/america-no-longer-a-nation-of-immigrants-uscis-says https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/02/22/588097749/america-no-longer-a-nation-of-immigrants-uscis-says

Ok. I got nothing. It's a beautiful, lyrical piece of music played by Itzhak Perlman on his Strad, and I got nothing. A skater did her long program to the main theme from Schindler's List. ... I just, I can't, I mean, there are some things that are just really pushing at what's appropriate and I can't really feel like this is comfortable. I really gotta question the choice of music. At least she didn't have some sparkly, foofy costume on? But what would be appropriate? Black and white stripes with a cap? A yellow star? Ashes? And this isn't the first person to do this! As a writer in Slate said some years ago about another figure skating routine to this music: "I think I speak for all of us when I say, “ Finally , someone has adapted the saddest scene from a Holocaust movie into an acrobatic figure-skating routine.” No? Just me? No one else?" Even Johnny Weir has skated to it, which I mention only because he's one of the commentators and if an...

Fascinating. Esp considering most major media outlets have been owned or run by people who personally vote or fund conservative, or at least GOP causes politically far more than any Democratic or liberal/progressive ones. Not to mention Pat Robertson and Roger Ailes and their media empires that were specifically created to promote agendas and views that could be described as anything other than liberal or progressive. I think Rush Limbaugh is as old as they are, and probably others. Of course, there's the more modern and more internet based outlets, that do include some specifically founded to be left not right media platforms (aka HuffPo), but they were part of an expansion that included opposite right, righter, and rightest platforms (aka Breitbart). So a generous assessment might consider that roughly balanced. Thing is, it seems far more of a tactic and article of faith, indeed, a test of really being a "conservative", now, that you mistrust the media and consider all...

I didn't get any sleep last night. Dilemma: do I try and stay up to watch figure skating final (sort of) live, or do I record it and watch later? Assuming NBC doesn't somehow manage to run ridiculously over time with ads and intermixed sports that I am definitely not staying up to watch and manage to record hours of broadcast but still miss the last 15-30 most important minutes of competition. Ahem.

Hard lessons. https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/02/20/587284377/report-detailing-harassment-at-npr-cites-high-level-of-distrust-of-management https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/02/20/587284377/report-detailing-harassment-at-npr-cites-high-level-of-distrust-of-management

Because there are never enough cute pets. http://wivb.com/2018/02/20/gallery-national-love-your-pet-day-2/ http://wivb.com/2018/02/20/gallery-national-love-your-pet-day-2/

As one of the quoted tweets said: Forget having a bad day. They have made a unicorn lucky charms marshmellow!!!! [sic] http://fortune.com/2018/02/20/lucky-charms-unicorn-marshmallow/ http://fortune.com/2018/02/20/lucky-charms-unicorn-marshmallow/

Well, well, I was wrong. https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/gold-last-us-scores-third-period-equalizer-wins-shootout https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/gold-last-us-scores-third-period-equalizer-wins-shootout

Jesus Christ. Let's invalidate the survivors, because they are messing with our little fantasy world. If they were real, they'd just shut up and grieve. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/21/business/media/youtube-conspiracy-video-parkland.html https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/21/business/media/youtube-conspiracy-video-parkland.html

Yes, that's right. "Crying white mothers are ratings gold." Because we should make sure there is some racism in here, too. In case it was unclear that we only mean white people, and the right kind of white people, should have guns. Choice quotes from Dana Loesch at CPAC. Note that she manages to attack "the media" and then "law enforcement". Interesting, since the gun lobby is very much cooperative with a number of so-called law enforcement groups and agencies. Yet, the NRA blames law enforcement as a distraction tactic from the guns used. I wonder very much if any real law enforcement professionals are going to realize that the NRA is with them only so long as they are useful. That, in fact, it sounds a lot like the NRA would like everyone to believe we live in a lawless state of anarchy where we will all be raped and murdered (things they specifically mention regularly) unless we each, individually, own our own personal arsenal. That law enforcement ...

If there's one thing I would immediately call a bad idea, it's trying to plan a Black History Month meal. There's no possible way this will not be insensitive to somebody. Not to mention you should just never, ever have watermelon anywhere near it, no matter what. I suppose if you have to try to do this, you can do it with a local African American organization and your history department, or something, but even then it could be fraught. Apparently, several schools tried something like this, not just NYU. https://www.theroot.com/nyu-catches-heat-for-racially-insensitive-black-history-1823223839 https://www.theroot.com/nyu-catches-heat-for-racially-insensitive-black-history-1823223839

Aw. I hope they both end up ok. http://people.com/pets/monkey-dog-friends-video/ http://people.com/pets/monkey-dog-friends-video/

Cue spit take. https://www.sunnyskyz.com/happy-pictures/2393/He-messed-with-the-wrong-car https://www.sunnyskyz.com/happy-pictures/2393/He-messed-with-the-wrong-car

Aw. He's just trying to hitch a ride. https://www.sunnyskyz.com/blog/2414/Police-Officer-Writes-Hilarious-Report-On-Elusive-Mouse-Bandit-That-Tried-To-Steal-His-Cruiser https://www.sunnyskyz.com/blog/2414/Police-Officer-Writes-Hilarious-Report-On-Elusive-Mouse-Bandit-That-Tried-To-Steal-His-Cruiser

Good grief, Google. (This is about someone else, not Damore, who says he was too pro-diversity so got fired.) https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/21/17038430/google-james-damore-memo-tim-chevalier-lawsuit-liberal-conservative-backlash https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/21/17038430/google-james-damore-memo-tim-chevalier-lawsuit-liberal-conservative-backlash

Oh, Bernie, no. https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/21/bernie-sanders-trump-russia-interference-420528 https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/21/bernie-sanders-trump-russia-interference-420528

Uplifting story about a great skater. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/catching-wirh-rudy-galindo-national-champion-latino-lgbt-figure-skating-n847166 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/catching-wirh-rudy-galindo-national-champion-latino-lgbt-figure-skating-n847166

Good grief. This is the idiot I posted about the other day. She's even more detached from reality than I thought. She's delusional. “Obviously there’s a lot of politics in it. And it’s interesting that so many of these people that commit the mass murders end up being Democrats. But the media doesn’t talk about that either.” https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/21/nyregion/tenney-mass-shooter-parkland.html https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/21/nyregion/tenney-mass-shooter-parkland.html

Um, stupid question. Why does Donald Trump have "45" written on his left sleeve cuff? You can see it in close up photos from his listening session today with the Stoneman Douglas families. https://gdb.voanews.com/AE4D300D-C616-4AD0-BC56-9E118F61B4AA_w650_r0_s.jpg

The Stoneman Douglas Town Hall on CNN: I didn't watch the bit with Rubio, so no running commentary on that bit. My god, the NRA rep at the Stoneman Douglas Town Hall is good at not answering questions. I mean, she is amazing . She doesn't appreciate people demanding she answer, either. They consider her blaming the media unacceptable, they don't buy her deflection to the federal government doesn't require the states to register blah blah blah, the military doesn't report people who are dangerous, etc. Damn, Sheriff of Broward County just shut her down for not answering the question from the student. P.S. NRA rep will not say we shouldn't have automatic weapons. Ha ha, you go, AP History teacher. Define: "well-regulated militia". Use supporting evidence. Watch NRA rep try to talk 18th century and have history teacher say nope, answer question about right now as the question was phrased. And NRA rep blames social services and FBI and other agencies. Clea...

I'm not sure when the billboard was painted. And no, in case it needs saying, I don't think 'kill the anything' is the right approach. Well, spiders, bedbugs, house centipedes - but in general, not. Meanwhile, the NRA's response was anything but mature or thoughtful. Or de-escalating. Nope. Their response was: Here’s an image from Kentucky, this morning. To all American gun owners, this is a wakeup call. They’re coming after us. Like and share to spread the word. Their response tells you all you need to know about the NRA. They are looking for a fight. They want one, although they will always look for a way to claim somebody else started it. They're arms merchants and they benefit most from a fight in which they are arming both sides. As noted, iirc, by one of the people now protesting from Parkland, the Second Amendment is not a license to kill. It's been thoroughly perverted, and that needs to be corrected asap. http://www.tampabay.com/news/nation/NRA-warn...

OMG. THE US WOMEN WON A CROSS COUNTRY GOLD MEDAL. OMG!!! (To be clear, we never win these events. In fact, I'm pretty sure we virtually never medal at all.)

Thoughts after watching the rest of the Ladies' Short Program: 1. Carmen and Swan Lake need to be banned from figure skating. At least from the women's programs. Please, just ban them both. No, really. Ban them. 2. I loved Miyahara's music. Not to mention her skating. Sakamoto was also impressive. 3. Choi Da-Bin (South Korea) was also graceful and beautiful and elegant. Loved it. 4. In the category of no, this isn't anti-feminist, what is with the heavy eye makeup on the Canadian women? Since you have to communicate with the judges and you're mostly doing that with your eyes, they need to see them. Some makeup enhances their visibility, too much makes them two black holes. It was especially distracting and noticeable on Gabrielle Daleman. Details matter, even this stuff. 5. Although I know Bradie Tennell has been amazingly consistent this year, I never expected much from her. Probably not fair, but she never makes me feel secure. Chen and Nagasu I can definitely see...

It will be a small miracle of the sports variety if the US women win the hockey gold over Canada, but you never know.

Sadly, it seems Korea has not been promoting its local food scene to Olympic visitors. Meanwhile, the squirmy octopus thing would be a real problem for me. Because squirmy. I've eaten octopus a number of times and prepared different ways. But it has been definitively not squirmy. Also, this is why there should never be auto playing gifs or video. Wtf, NYT? * shudder * It's unclear from this if by blowfish he means the pufferfish otherwise known as fugu. I'd certainly be asking for clarification on that one. I'd be all over the crab, though, and the soups, noodles, rice cakes, etc, and if it was a place people knew and could vouch for, what's wrong with raw beef? https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/21/sports/olympics/korean-food-visitors.html https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/21/sports/olympics/korean-food-visitors.html

Decency, humanity, and generosity. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/inspired-life/wp/2018/02/21/this-distraught-woman-was-at-a-n-y-airport-after-her-friend-was-killed-in-the-parkland-shooting-two-police-officers-bought-her-plane-ticket-home/?utm_term=.7f874ad41d31

... You can’t just slap a Bible verse over a wound and expect it to heal. Ruth sounds like an interesting person. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2018/02/21/divorce-drugs-drinking-billy-grahams-children-and-their-absent-father/?utm_term=.bb9c9482ab9f

Lack of self-insight doesn't really seem to cover this. https://deadspin.com/mark-cuban-on-not-firing-employee-after-domestic-abuse-1823205987 https://deadspin.com/mark-cuban-on-not-firing-employee-after-domestic-abuse-1823205987

Really need a raised eyebrow smiley/emoji. https://techcrunch.com/2018/02/21/fords-president-of-north-america-exits-the-company-due-to-inappropriate-behavior/ http://money.cnn.com/2018/02/21/news/companies/raj-nair-exits-ford/index.html http://money.cnn.com/2018/02/21/news/companies/raj-nair-exits-ford/index.html

Gmafb. https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/02/donald-trump-jr-sacrifices https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/02/donald-trump-jr-sacrifices

Fun ideas (can only get them if you go to Manchester, though): https://www.facebook.com/SlatteryCakes/ http://metro.co.uk/2018/02/21/potter-fans-rejoice-a-sorting-hat-easter-egg-is-here-7328257/ http://metro.co.uk/2018/02/21/potter-fans-rejoice-a-sorting-hat-easter-egg-is-here-7328257/

Well, I'm packing it in. Will record and watch tomorrow. Hope the Americans are amazing. I know the Russians will be.

Ok. I love a good Biellmann as much as the next person, but why is everyone doing them this year?

Looks like Lindsey Vonn got the bronze - good for her.

Yes, AC/DC!

Meanwhile, skiing's getting tense.

A much more positive article. https://sports.yahoo.com/liz-swaney-worst-olympian-actually-might-best-012747577.html https://sports.yahoo.com/liz-swaney-worst-olympian-actually-might-best-012747577.html

Digging the Kazakh skater's music and costume.

Welcome to insurance from the 1960s, I guess? Which you can't get if you've been sick, which can ditch you if you get too sick, which doesn't cover much of anything anyway. Why does this sound a lot like the insurance scams where people would pay money for years and then find out that they essentially had no usable coverage? https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/02/20/587244292/trump-administration-wants-to-let-insurers-offer-plans-with-fewer-benefits https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/02/20/587244292/trump-administration-wants-to-let-insurers-offer-plans-with-fewer-benefits

Hey, DFS - http://www.newsweek.com/drinking-alcohol-tied-long-life-new-study-813013 http://www.newsweek.com/drinking-alcohol-tied-long-life-new-study-813013

It's very simple. Do you want dead, brain damaged, deaf children? Because I don't see how that's an improvement over autism. And you are putting not just your child at risk. You are putting every child at risk. Not to mention adults who aren't immune. I also have to question at what point the anti-vaxers become criminally responsible for the harm they do to their children, the harm they do to other people, and the cost incurred by the public health system because of them. http://www.bbc.com/news/health-43125242 http://www.bbc.com/news/health-43125242

Since WaPo links don't work, have a CNET link to an adorable newborn octopus instead: https://www.cnet.com/news/dumbo-octopus-hatchling-baby-seen-on-video-first-time/ https://www.cnet.com/news/dumbo-octopus-hatchling-baby-seen-on-video-first-time/

Shoulda used FedEx (lol). http://money.cnn.com/2018/02/19/investing/kfc-chicken-shortage/index.html http://money.cnn.com/2018/02/19/investing/kfc-chicken-shortage/index.html

Ion, the tie in 2 man bobsled was very cool (Germany and Canada). Also, missing out if haven't heard the K-pop from this Dutch band at speed skating (oompah gangnam style!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjgXGqavS5Y https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjgXGqavS5Y

Papadakis and Cizeron were technically better (we're talking tenths and hundredths of points, here) and their artistry was exceptional, but the judges clearly felt the intensity and emotion of Virtue and Moir carried the artistic interpretation over the top. It was so close. Totally worth watching and both teams were amazing. (My heart bleeds for the American team that fell. They easily could have been top 5 otherwise.)

In the context of our current culture, fine, ok, yes. It's far more thoughtful to tread carefully on the more uptight side of the line of modesty/ embarrassment/ exploitation. Otoh, it's a breast. Everybody has two of them. Yes, men, too. Why should it even be possible to consider the visible evidence of a breast ( ᴏᴍɢ, ᴀ ɴɪᴘᴘʟᴇ ) something that even can be exploited? Seriously, gtfoi. Quite honestly, I suspect a lot of the rest of the world didn't think it was nearly as problematic. Or should I say titillating. Besides. If you weren't ogling women's bodies, why would all the women be wearing these revealing (for real or by implication) costumes? Maybe you should rethink that a bit, as well, before you get all freaked out because somebody replayed a part of the routine that accidentally included a nipple. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/winter-olympics-2018/2018/02/19/why-did-olympic-broadcaster-show-replay-exposed-breast/352457002/ https://www.usatoday.com/st...

Some lovely ice dancing going on.

After the second major costume disaster in ice dancing, I have to ask: why on earth are these costumes so skimpy and poorly engineered? Firstly, you lose points for a costume issue per the rules. Basically, because it is a safety issue if sparklies or fabric bits end up on the ice; it's really dangerous. Secondly, it is a 'thing' to engineer a skating costume. People who get paid thousands of dollars to do this know and understand this engineering. Why would any costume designer and skater sit down to discuss this and decide we don't need no stinking secure costumes! The forces from spinning alone could remove a bikini top. It's super common for costumes to include flesh toned fabric. Sometimes rather a lot of it, pushing some of the rules about modesty, dignity, and appropriate for athletic competition (yeah, yeah, the original olympics were naked, oily guys). In any case, the forces on a skating costume are pretty significant, so having a snap, or a hook be the on...

Things that make me jealous. Seen at the local nerd movie theater. Excuse me, theatre. Seems they have been nerds for a long time.

If I lived near, I would support this farm. (Ugh, link not working - they have a sign that they put Resist White Supremacy on, and they've apparently done things like this in the past and get backlash for it. They're in Virginia.) https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/resist-white-supremacy-a-sign-a-farm-and-the-fury-that-followed/2018/02/13/47e7dfa2-10e0-11e8-9065-e55346f6de81_story.html?utm_term=.7d3f0acf7d5f

Happy birthday, Zeynep Dilli. May it be everything you could hope for.

Dear headline writers on every coverage of this everywhere - this has NOTHING to do with how wonderful mom is for baptizing her daughter and how awful all the godless communists terrible people who threw her in jail are. It's not about the baptism, people. It's about a parent who defies court orders and uses their child against the other parent because they care more about their fight with the other parent than they do about the child. This woman is not some holy religious martyr. She's a terrible parent who is probably going to learn nothing from this and be supported by ignorant people suckered by the headline. https://nypost.com/2018/02/17/mom-jailed-after-baptizing-daughter/ https://nypost.com/2018/02/17/mom-jailed-after-baptizing-daughter/

Of course they already thought of this. http://drinks.seriouseats.com/2013/02/combine-bitters-and-soda-great-drinks-easy-fun.html http://drinks.seriouseats.com/2013/02/combine-bitters-and-soda-great-drinks-easy-fun.html

Stupid Coca-Cola ad just made me want a crunchy taco. You know, the ones with the half-moon shaped fried shells.

Weather, climate, whatever. It's not like this translates into jobs or costs to the economy or, like, money stuff. Or, um, strategically critical info for military business. Absolutely nothing in military history has ever been affected by weather. Nope, not once. What? https://www.forbes.com/sites/marshallshepherd/2018/02/17/in-the-weather-app-era-cuts-to-the-national-weather-service-are-dangerous/#4a23428a1438 https://www.forbes.com/sites/marshallshepherd/2018/02/17/in-the-weather-app-era-cuts-to-the-national-weather-service-are-dangerous/#4a23428a1438

Shit. And yes, they totally were thinking about money. Which is the job of commercial companies. It has become more and more the goal of researchers and research universities, too, as money pressures become primary. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/02/17/585385308/did-pox-virus-research-put-potential-profits-ahead-of-public-safety https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/02/17/585385308/did-pox-virus-research-put-potential-profits-ahead-of-public-safety

Definitely do not watch news. Our new HHS Secretary has somehow managed to claim that the restrictions** on the CDC using any money to do research on guns and gun violence are a restriction on advocacy only. So of course they can do research so we can have evidence based solutions to gun violence. Except he's going to make sure that any research focuses on non-gun related aspects of gun violence, like mental illness. ... ... ... I know this is but one of many obvious questions, here, but how do you research gun violence without researching guns ? Just, you know, curious. **See: Dickey Amendment - stuck onto a budget bill in 1997, I think. P.S. The NRA wanted something like this because they didn't like some research that was published suggesting more guns in the home up the risk for gun related violence in the home.

Good grief. Totally just trying to avoid watching ads, flipped channels, and got caught watching some GOP rep from NY** on CNN who actually said: 1) She hasn't read the whole indictment 2) The indictment proves there was no collusion with the Trump campaign 3) It's terrible that the Democrats can't work with the GOP to oppose the terrible influence of the Russians 4) The Russian efforts had no effect on the elections 5) They should look into collusion with the Democrats, since Fusion GPS blah blah blah 6) It's a Democratic plot to smear Donald Trump I mean, I'm all for sticking to talking points but for crying out loud. The interviewer could not get her to make a clean statement that it doesn't matter what your politics are, having a foreign government deliberately and successfully interfere in our governance is bad. Successful meaning they caused chaos and wasted resources and other problems, not whether one person or another won. The Representative kept going ...

For the moment, my two favorite Olympic skating programs have been the German pairs team's long program/free skate and Yuzuru Hanyu's short program.

Speaking of the olympics, it boggles me that any company thinks everyone wants to watch so-called live streaming as their only option, never mind live broadcast TV. Firstly, it's not often truly "live", since no matter where the olympics happen, it's the middle of the night somewhere. Plus, it's not like they have it on 24/7 covering every moment of every event. Secondly, I don't know about other countries, but our very special licensee is quite selective in what they bother to broadcast and I'm guessing they don't even record a lot of events. They certainly have very little officially accessible online if you don't watch their "live" feed. Thirdly, I cannot honestly imagine that most people genuinely want to watch every moment of every event. Maybe they think limiting what's officially freely available will force people to pay for streaming services or whatever, but since you still can't necessarily pick and choose what you want ...

He may not win a medal, but Nathan Chen brought it big time in the men's free skate.

Bye, Felicia. https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/16/17021714/james-damore-google-nlrb-complaint-diversity-discrimination https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/16/17021714/james-damore-google-nlrb-complaint-diversity-discrimination

Shocked. Shocked, I tell you. (Just to be clear, if that statement were any drier, it would make the Sahara look wet.) https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2018/02/15/vice-president-pences-claim-that-u-s-spy-agencies-found-no-impact-from-russian-meddling/?utm_term=.8b2954b358bb

Wow. Toyota carbon canisters are expensive. But not as expensive as the catalytic converter would have been, so yay.

Not even gonna link any of the expanding pool of comments and articles. Mikaela Shiffrin didn't win slalom gold, she didn't even medal. She got 4th place. Sucks to be fourth best in the world. Let's dump on her. She's got 2 gold medals, one from 2014, and one from yesterday in giant slalom. YESTERDAY. Maybe it was nerves, maybe it's a virus (she barfed right before skiing, I guess). Who cares? What's the difference? She's still 3 time world champ and has 2 olympic gold medals. It occurs to me our narrative around sports might just be a bit skewed, fickle, and full of crap, at times. I'm still gonna think I couldn't do that and she's fscking amazing.

Ion, I give you the check engine light on a Friday. Woo.

DEATH. Seriously, though. Aren't first graders supposed to be out collecting rainbow ponies, or something? #elementarymetaphysics #riddlegame https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2018/01/03/when-a-first-graders-wrong-answer-was-better-than-the-right-one/?utm_term=.775a794eb7fe https://twitter.com/bretjturner/status/948336006054395904 https://twitter.com/bretjturner/status/948336006054395904/photo/1

Yet again, I discover that eating addresses that completely dragged out exhausted feeling. If only humans had brown fat.

Trying not to isolate myself, even if about all I can manage at the moment is saying so to you all on here. So much garbage all the time. It's draining.

One of the reasons I stayed Friday was that my sister could still use some help with things, including taking care of the animals. Clearly, I have erred in not having recorded my sister's Shih Tzu bounding through snow all the way up to his face because Walkies! for about two houses, then deciding ftn and stopping and looking at me. Like I had some responsibility, here. Also, though, total NOPE face. So we turned around to go back and I'm all where's the dog? I still have the leash, and it's not pulling on anything, but he's nowhere in my 170 or so degrees of vision. So I turn a full circle looking for him. It turns out he has decided that he is walking back directly behind me in my footsteps, where I have de facto cleared the snow for him. Well played, smol dog. Well played.

Ended up driving back on Saturday for reasons. Not really certain that was an improvement over Friday, with the possible exception of no rush hour to contend with. Kept having to stop to refill windshield washer fluid and scrape the icy snowy slushy coating off the grill and headlights, which were both sealed in by the coating. Am totally fascinated by what Michigan considers plowing and salting the highway. P.S. They really need to work on that. To be fair, while the 401 & 402 were brilliant, the 403, Lincoln Alexander and Red Hill were utter disasters a la I-94 through Michigan. Well, except the part north of St. Clair Shores. That part of 94 was beautifully plowed and salted. Took 2 extra hours of driving, which made a rather longish trip. But I have clearly survived, so yay.

My sister is in Scottsdale for a business meeting and I am snow-blowing her driveway. There is something wrong with this picture.

Trigger Warning: abuse, especially if you read the non-NYT article. Includes photo. Someday, we will figure out that this is not normal behavior and change the culture so nobody grows up thinking it is. Someday, we will understand how normal it is at present and stop pretending to be shocked every time it shows up. Mr. Perfect WASP with all the lineage is a person with rage problems who abuses his wives. Shocking. That never happens. After all, he's a committed public servant. All he ever did was "put duty to country first". The NYT article isn't nearly as illuminating as the other one. I don't know the publication (The Intercept), but the info sounds valid. Textbook variety abuse. Enabled by a conservative religious context. If it will not trigger you, read it. That photo is a healing bruise around her eye. I presume I do not have to explain what else I can professionally ID as to physical injury pattern. As far as the religious aspect, Judeo Christian constructs...