gwydion | 12/11/24 - 12/14/24 (Reply)

*

* Please tell the Whitehouse anything you want them to do while there is still time: https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

* "Resources for helping Gaza, Sudan and Congo:" https://www.tumblr.com/swallowedabug/758070860436439040?source=share

* "Israel’s move into Golan Heights demilitarised zone:" https://www.reuters.com/graphics/SYRIA-SECURITY/MAPS/myvmbxdgwpr/#israels-move-into-golan-heights-demilitarised-zone

* "An elaborate global system exists to prevent famine. It’s failing.:" https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/famine-response-overview/

* "Hundreds of arrests and mysterious beatings as Georgia cracks down on pro-EU protests:" https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/hundreds-arrests-mysterious-beatings-georgia-cracks-down-pro-eu-protests-2024-12-11/

* "Women despair over Taliban rules, but many Afghan returnees don’t see it:" https://archive.ph/QbWSV#selection-494.0-494.1

* "Ayman: Why did it take this long for Assad’s regime in Syria to collapse?:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/ayman-why-did-it-take-this-long-for-assad-s-regime-in-syria-to-collapse-226786373533

* "A look at the political storm caused by South Korean president’s martial law decree:" https://apnews.com/article/south-korea-yoon-martial-law-impeachment-turmoil-timeline-336b2e3defa5c4e36221ca08ae75cbc7

* "South Korea opposition leader urges president's party to back impeachment over martial law:" https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-korea-opposition-leader-lee-says-impeaching-yoon-best-way-restore-order-2024-12-13/

* "K-pop light sticks fire up Yoon's impeachment protests in South Korea:" https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/k-pop-light-sticks-fire-up-impeachment-protests-south-korea-2024-12-10/

* These are refugees. "Dominican Republic Is Deporting Haitians In Trucks With Built-in Cages In Immigration Crackdown:" https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/dominican-republic-is-deporting-haitians-in-trucks-with-built-in-cages-in-immigration-crackdown/ar-AA1vCCDL

* "Chinese espionage campaign scooped up data on thousands of US mobile phone users, sources say:" https://abcnews.go.com/US/chinese-espionage-campaign-scooped-data-thousands-us-mobile/story?id=116439853

* "The Hawaiians Who Want Their Nation Back: In 1893, a U.S.-backed coup overthrew the Islands’ sovereign government. What does America owe Hawai‘i now?:" https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2025/01/hawaii-monarchy-overthrow-independence/680759/

* "Ex-Judges Join Push for Biden to Commute Federal Death Sentences:" https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/ex-judges-join-push-for-biden-to-commute-federal-death-sentences

* As of this writing, it's not the death penalty cases yet, so now might be a good time to let Biden know. "Biden commutes sentences for 1,500 people. Some say he could do a lot more:" https://www.npr.org/2024/12/12/nx-s1-5226683/biden-commutations-pardons

* "Interior Sec. Deb Haaland - Honoring Native American History & Gift to Biden | The Daily Show:"

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* "FBI informant accused of lying about Bidens agrees to plead guilty:" https://www.politico.com/news/2024/12/12/smirnov-bidens-plea-agreement-00194004

* "US Supreme Court may limit environmental reviews in Utah railway fight:" https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-supreme-court-examines-utah-railway-environmental-review-fight-2024-12-10/

* "US v Skrmetti is a public health disaster:" https://www.advocate.com/voices/us-v-skrmetti

* "Trans Kids Are On The Chopping Block:"

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* "BREAKING: U.S. House passes defense spending bill with anti-trans provision:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/anti-trans-defense-bill-advances

* "Gay Democrat is lone LGBTQ+ vote in Congress for anti-trans national defense bill:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/chris-pappas-supports-transphobic-bill

* "40+ senators oppose anti-LGBTQ+, anti-abortion provisions in spending bills:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/senators-oppose-anti-lgbtq-ndaa

Remember how we spent all last year and the early part of this one fighting this sort of thing where they slip anti-bodily autonomy stuff into must pass funding bills?

Here we are again. Please, call your critters in the Senate, whether Republican or Democrat. Democrats actually had our backs through these fights in the last few years, but it's not guaranteed given the scapegoating in the press, so call Democratic critters too help stiffen their spines. Thank them if they are standing up for bodily autonomy; tell them your opinion if they aren't. Express support for trans healthcare as well as abortion

If you can't safely contact them in person, here are some other options:

Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to the representative of your choice.
Here is one that will send your reps a fax: https://resist.bot/
To get your Critters' numbers to call direct: https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member

* Women in the Open misogyny/Women should be subordinate and have no say in anything party shocked SHOCKED that the party is misogynist and won't let them have a say in anything. "Republican women annoyed GOP Congress won't let them run committees: report:" https://www.rawstory.com/republican-women-in-congress/?fbclid=IwY2xjawHISwVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHdNfhvGLyRp5kBd98UrRP1ZhVjp2l_prDktsdkOxjaKP2d0ahXu54TmElw_aem_VSofeM4qZMNmHyTXyABnRQ&sfnsn=mo

* "Ocasio-Cortez launches bid for top role on Oversight, as some Dems predict she’ll win:" https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/12/06/congress/ocasio-cortez-prepares-oversight-bid-00193010

* "Donald Trump says he won’t debate trans bathroom use affecting ‘very small number of people’:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/trans-bathroom-ban-donald-trump

One. One person in particular. They singled out Sarah McBride to prevent her peeing safely at work.

*****
* Our job for the next two years is to survive, to build grassroots resistance, to do all in our power to slow the republican Christo-fascist agenda, and to prepare for 2026 in case there is still Democracy.

We are trying to build a good list of resistance resources.

Please add more below if you have them.

Trump 2.0 Indivisible Guide. https://indivisible.org/resource/guide

Have something you want to tell your Congress Critters? If you can't safely contact them in person, here are some other options:

Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to the representative of your choice.
Here is one that will send your reps a fax: https://resist.bot/
To get your Critters' numbers to call direct: https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member

Run for Something: https://runforsomething.net/

How to render emergency aid in a riot: https://riotmedicine.net/static/downloads/riot-medicine_a5.pdf

"How to Safely and Ethically Film Police Misconduct:" https://www.teenvogue.com/story/how-to-film-police-safely

*****

* "North Carolina GOP lawmakers override veto of bill to strip power from incoming Democratic officials:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/north-carolina-republican-override-veto-democrat-governor-rcna183703

* "Elections board dismisses Republican protests in close North Carolina races:" https://abc11.com/post/elections-board-dismisses-republican-protests-close-north-carolina-races/15642973/

* "Texas City Council that targeted LGBTQ+ people gets voted out — and replaced with first gay member:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/texas-odessa-first-gay-city-council-member

* "Nancy Mace gets prominent foster care activist arrested on assault charges that eyewitnesses dispute:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/nancy-mace-disputed-assault-claims

* "Who is Scott Presler? The gay conservative even the RNC won't employ:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/who-is-scott-presler

* "Court ruling sends jolt through the core of U.S. conservatives, Fox News 'Trump staffing agency':" https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/court-ruling-sends-jolt-through-the-core-of-u-s-conservatives-fox-news-trump-staffing-agency-226736197803

* "Sen. Bernie Sanders on Making Government Deliver:" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sen-bernie-sanders-on-making-government-deliver/id1583132133?i=1000679319133

* "Free Idea: No Democratic Votes For Loyalty-Tested Republicans:" https://www.offmessage.net/p/no-democratic-votes-for-loyalty-test-republicans

* "‘Enraging’: Hayes slams lawmakers, billionaires for submitting to Trump in advance:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/-enraging-hayes-slams-lawmakers-billionaires-for-submitting-to-trump-in-advance-226951749754

* "The triumph of anti-identity-politics identity politics:" https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/the-triumph-of-anti-identity-politics-identity-politics/ar-AA1vCC9Z

* "Conservatism in the Trump 2.0 Years with McKay Coppins:" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conservatism-in-the-trump-2-0-years-with-mckay-coppins/id1382983397?i=1000678257096

* "FBI didn’t deploy undercover agents on Jan. 6, watchdog report finds, undercutting conspiracy theories:" https://www.politico.com/news/2024/12/12/fbi-jan-6-undercover-agents-inspector-general-report-00194036

* "A leaked video of UnitedHealth CEO defending denial practices sparks more online backlash:" https://www.yahoo.com/news/leaked-video-unitedhealth-ceo-defending-183000779.html

* Well, fuck. "Bankruptcy judge rejects The Onion's bid for Infowars:" https://www.npr.org/2024/12/10/nx-s1-5224170/infowars-alex-jones-the-onion-bankruptcy-judge

* "Warren on UnitedHealthcare CEO’s killing: ‘People can only be pushed so far’: The Massachusetts lawmaker condemned the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, but added that the visceral reaction online should be a “warning” to the industry.:" https://www.politico.com/news/2024/12/11/unitedhealthcare-ceo-killing-00193776

* "You Don't Need to Be Luigi Mangione to Hate United Healthcare:"

Watch on YouTube

* I remain furious about this. "Former US Marine found not guilty in fatal New York subway choking:" https://www.reuters.com/world/us/former-us-marine-found-not-guilty-fatal-new-york-subway-choking-media-report-2024-12-09/
eacher suspended for LGBTQ+ books in her classroom sues school district:" https://www.advocate.com/news/ohio-teacher-lgbtq-books-lawsuit

* "Wisconsin man who killed girlfriend for having sex with another woman will now be tried for attacking guard:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/richard-stoka-wisconsin-new-charges

* "An Oregon teacher was chastised for supporting LGBTQ+ students. She sued and won $90,000:" https://www.advocate.com/news/oregon-steacher-whistleblower-lgbtq-lawsuit

* "Virginia Republicans vote to take control of local library after losing fight to remove LGBTQ+ books:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/samuels-library-front-royal-challenge

* Hint: TERFs are not feminists. They are anti-feminist racists. "JK Rowling Has Done it AGAIN!:"

Watch on YouTube

* "Is climate change lighting a fuse under Iceland's volcanoes?:" https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/climate-change-glacier-volcanoes/

* "Death by water, burial by mud. Images of Spain’s floods of the century:" https://apnews.com/article/floods-spain-valencia-photo-gallery-af444afb79ad40dd4a01e9dcfa95d2ba

* "How a Team of Gophers Restored Mount St. Helens After Its Catastrophic Eruption With Less Than a Day of Digging:" https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-a-team-of-gophers-restored-mount-st-helens-after-its-catastrophic-eruption-with-less-than-a-day-of-digging-180985459/

* "Appeals court upholds TikTok ban, declining to block law that would force sale:" https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tiktok-ban-appeals-court-congress/

* "Keeping Your Personal Data Safe in the Age of Trump:" https://www.wired.com/story/politics-lab-keeping-your-personal-data-safe/

* "Monarch butterfly proposed for listing under the US Endangered Species Act:" https://xerces.org/press/monarch-butterfly-proposed-for-listing-under-us-endangered-species-act

* "When Songbird Couples Split: A warming climate may cause more bird couples to break up.:" https://nautil.us/when-songbird-couples-split-1168056/?

* "Medieval Daily Life on Birchbark:" https://www.medievalists.net/2024/11/medieval-daily-life-on-birchbark/

* "Self-Publishing and the Black American Narrative:" https://daily.jstor.org/self-publishing-black-american-narrative/?preview_id=320102

* "All about the nation's first gay rights group, the Society for Human Rights, founded 100 years ago:" https://www.advocate.com/news/first-gay-rights-group

* "Millions are reading a teen’s account of life and war. It’s from 1945.:" https://archive.ph/By0Rr#selection-476.0-476.1

* "The Soul of 1970s Harlem as Seen Through Jack Garofalo’s Camera:" https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/harlem-photographed-by-jack-garofalo/

* CW: Pedophilia. "Waco Primer:" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/waco-primer/id1762494071?i=1000676606879

* "How To Lose A Rap Battle:"

Watch on YouTube

* The fundraiser is over. I want to tank everyone has helped since September. This has been a terrible year for all of us and it means so much to me that you are here.

* Amoung the Too Many Things that maid up my Wednesday, I went to get vaccinated. Yes, I know my Doctor suggested I should wait for February after my September COVID, according to current guidelines, but I am worried that that all vaccines may be banned by that point, if the Republicans fulfill their threats. I don't want to get caught in what I suspect will be a rush for boosters in January by people who are aware of the planned vaccine ban.

Sure, it might not happen, but this is one of the areas where they can move without Congress and there isn't much stopping them, so I decided on caution. I take vaccination seriously and there is a reason I was classed group 1B during initial vaccine roll out. I'm a medically fragile person who had to mask against things like influenza before 2020. I made it four and a half years before catching it, I'd rather not catch it again, as I am still tired from my first bout in September and I'd rather not lose any more function. I'd get an RSV vaccine if they'd let me. I have all my other shots.

So I was down at the poverty clinic pharmacy chatting with the guy giving me my shot, who has been there, I think, a couple decades, so I'm a familiar face. So I mentioned my worries about the public health policy situation to see how they were taking it at Poverty clinic.

He had a lot to say, not surprisingly. They are frightened and furious. They rely on grants and are absolutely essential to the healthcare infrastructure of the city. In my opinion, they are absolutely irreplaceable. They serve the poor and other marginalized communities. They've been essential to providing healthcare to the HIV+ population since the '80's, they are a hub for trans healthcare for several counties, they are queer friendly generally and safe, they have lots of immigrant services and translators, they do a lion's share of health care and dentistry for the homeless population. Him: We save lives here. I don't know what will happen if we lose our grants and close.

Me either, Sir. Me either.

* The asshole agency started sending cleaners again the back half of November. As they only sent one person for a two hour shift, not counting the lady who lied she was going to get gloves and drove away, between early June and then (The time we needed them most), I had a fuckton of hours that go away at the end of the year. I've been scheduling them twice a week and to my absolute shock they've been sending them. O.o I had five extra hours even so, so I scheduled a couple extra Mondays because of the holidays.

One of them is amazing, so I set it up so she gets first shot at my hours. Seriously, she's a delight. She's lonely and has hinted at maybe wanting to be friends outside of work. I'd invite her to join the friend group if she could bubble, but she has kids, so it wouldn't be safe, unfortunately. (Don't worry, we both mask for her visits). I sent her home with three full boxes of food forage sent us that neither we nor the Millennials could use, two boxes of which have been in my car since inspection because we needed to take them to donate. Better they go to a single Mom I know and like, I figure.

Part of why my original standard cleaner day for Friday morning is that the forage boxes usually arrive while cleaners are there and they can haul them inside and I can offer them things like the extra eggs (Squirrel isn't allowed to have them and I can only use whites in a baking context because my body can't handle an egg white omelette even so I never need more than one carton. I am always asking visiting Millennials if they want eggs.), or vegetables we are allergic to, or canned goods we have a surplus of or can't use for medical reasons, etc.. Some take them, some don't. My feeling is people who aren't poor don't take jobs like this. Poor people have to look out for each other.

The thing is, I needed to take a Millennial to a thing to sort out an ongoing thing left over from late last summer. The place closes at five which meant between 3/12- 4 Hours sleep for me. I am exhausted, but it was worth it. I do need to take them back a couple more times, but it is actually sorted out in a satisfactory way. We stopped at the good grocery on the way back and I got good tomatoes for sandwiches, which I had been wanting to do, but was too tired last couple of days what with the HOA drama and the booster shot. As Covid vaccine goes, this wasn't too bad and is noticeably less severe than this years flu shot was. I can live with extra tired, and slightly congested. I frequently do that without any vaccines. It's certainly better than a second bout of Covid would be.

I am not looking forward to figuring out how to get my flu and Covid boosters in Canada next year if they are banned. Sigh. That is next September me's problem, though.

I also had a Firefox crash and they no longer let you have access to a "restore session" button. I spent a couple hours reconstructing, but I suspect some news was lost and it is possible I may repost news items because I can't remember if they went out already. Apologies.

* "Meanwhile... Oregon's Controversial Googly Eyes | Drain Pipe Cat | Krispy Kreme Hacked:"

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* ""TV Ate my Family": Lance Loud & America's First Reality Show:"

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* "Fashion Doesn't Matter (like it used to):"

Watch on YouTube

* "Jane Austen - Sarcasm and Subversion - Extra History:"

Watch on YouTube

* "Horror Queers: Critters (1986):" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/critters-1986/id1449041559?i=1000666871969

* "Hallmark Channel Targets Sad Singles:"

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* "The Anti-Holiday Rom-Com We Deserve After Surviving 2024 | The Daily Show:"

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