12/28/24 - 1/2/25
Jan. 3rd, 2025 12:01 am* "Resources for helping Gaza, Sudan and Congo:" https://www.tumblr.com/swallowedabug/758070860436439040?source=share
* "Gaza population down by 6% since start of war - Palestinian statistics bureau:" https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/gaza-population-down-by-6-since-start-war-palestinian-statistics-bureau-2025-01-01/
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* "Palestinian-American explains why he is suing the State Department over U.S. support for Israel:" https://www.msnbc.com/ayman-mohyeldin/watch/palestinian-american-explains-why-he-is-suing-the-state-department-over-u-s-support-for-israel-227711045998
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* "Two killed in Russian drone strike on Kyiv, Ukraine says:" https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-launches-new-year-drone-strike-kyiv-officials-say-2025-01-01/
* "Russia’s War Economy Is Hitting Its Limits:" https://foreignpolicy.com/2024/11/14/russia-war-putin-economy-weapons-production-labor-shortage-demographics/
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* "U.S. strikes Houthi targets in Yemen after American warships attacked, CENTCOM says:" https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-strikes-houthi-targets-yemen-warships-attacked/
* "Ceasefire between Turkey and US-backed SDF in northern Syria holding, Pentagon says:" https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/ceasefire-between-turkey-us-backed-sdf-northern-syria-holding-pentagon-says-2024-12-30/
* "How Syria’s rebels overcame years of a bloody stalemate to topple Assad:" https://archive.ph/fT7tB#selection-504.0-504.1
* "An uneasy calm settles over Syrian city of Homs after outbreak of sectarian violence:" https://apnews.com/article/syria-homs-alawites-hts-assad-sectarian-6c8d534d9f93da13dc8629f2f2c49aae
* "Venezuela opposition urges protests against Maduro's inauguration:" https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20241231-venezuela-opposition-urges-protests-against-maduro-s-inauguration
* "Some missing residential school students disappeared into arranged marriages, report says:" https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/arranged-marriages-residential-schools-1.7396200
* "China-backed election raises fears of 'negative peace' in Myanmar:" https://www.voanews.com/a/china-backed-election-raises-fears-of-negative-peace-in-myanmar/7921313.html
* "U.S. Treasury says its computers were hacked by a Chinese 'threat actor' in a 'major incident':" https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/us-treasury-says-computers-hacked-chinese-threat-actor-rcna185809
* "Biden unveils final $2.5B security aid package for Ukraine:" https://www.politico.eu/article/joe-biden-announces-his-final-2-5-billion-security-aid-package-to-ukraine-war/
* "Biden honors Liz Cheney, Bennie Thompson with top civilian award:" https://www.npr.org/2025/01/02/g-s1-40817/biden-liz-cheney-presidential-citizens-medal
* It's to keep Trump from appointing extra partisan incompetents. "Biden vetoes bill that would have created dozens of new federal judge slots:" https://www.politico.com/news/2024/12/23/biden-vetoes-bill-federal-judge-slots-00195981
* "Biden administration scraps rules to expand birth control access:" https://www.politico.com/news/2024/12/23/biden-admin-birth-control-rule-00195979
* "US appeals court blocks Biden administration effort to restore net-neutrality rules:" https://www.reuters.com/legal/us-appeals-court-blocks-biden-administration-net-neutrality-rules-2025-01-02/
* "Senate Democrats blast Supreme Court's 'ethical crisis' as investigation concludes:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-democrats-blast-supreme-courts-ethical-crisis-investigation-rcna184987
* "Yellen: US will hit debt ceiling in mid- or late-January:" https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/12/27/congress/yellen-sees-u-s-hitting-debt-ceiling-in-early-2025-00196091
* "How Much Tax Do America's Undocumented Immigrants Actually Pay? [Infographic]:" https://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2016/10/06/how-much-tax-do-americas-undocumented-immigrants-actually-pay-infographic/
* "The Walmart Effect: New research suggests that the company makes the communities it operates in poorer—even taking into account its famous low prices.:" https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/12/walmart-prices-poverty-economy/681122/
* "Strike Against Amazon Ends But Teamsters Warn "Stay Tuned":" https://www.nycclc.org/news/2024-12/strike-against-amazon-ends-teamsters-warn-stay-tuned
* "House ethics watchdog unfurls campaign finance allegations against two members:" https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/01/02/congress/house-ethics-violations-allegations-00196307
* "Trump endorses Johnson for speaker:" https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/12/30/congress/trump-endorses-johnson-for-speaker-00196113
*****
* 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
*****
* "Ohio changes election forms to protect transgender political candidates:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/ohio-election-forms-transgender-candidates
* "Indiana Republicans target transgender people in one of new year’s first anti-LGBTQ+ bills:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/indiana-transgender-sports-ban
* "Florida Republican wants to ban Pride flags in public buildings:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/florida-randy-fine-pride-flags
* "Will American democracy follow Joe Biden into the sunset in 2025?:" https://www.advocate.com/voices/will-american-democracy-follow-joe-biden-into-the-sunset-in-2025
* ""This is Trump’s America now!": MAGA diehards jumpstart a new year of political violence:" https://www.salon.com/2024/12/30/this-is-trumps-america-now-maga-diehards-jumpstart-a-new-year-of-political-violence/
* ""President Musk" And The Dangers Of Plutocracy:"
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* "Why Does Elon Musk Want to Kill Wikipedia?:"
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* "Trump weighs in on H-1B visas amid legal immigration fight:" https://www.semafor.com/article/12/29/2024/trump-fails-to-clarify-stance-on-highly-sough-h-1b-visas-wanted-by-silicon-valley
* "Trump tech bros spar with MAGA loyalists online:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/trump-tech-bros-spar-with-maga-loyalists-online-228053573772
* "Elon Musk ‘melts down’ after underestimating wrath of MAGA trolls:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/elon-musk-melts-down-after-underestimating-wrath-of-maga-trolls-228186181734
* CW: Sexual Abuse. "Court rejects Trump appeal in E. Jean Carroll sexual abuse and defamation case:" https://www.npr.org/2024/12/30/nx-s1-5243228/federal-appeal-trump-e-jean-carroll
* "Former D.C. police intel chief found guilty of tipping off Proud Boys leader ahead of Jan. 6 attack:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/former-dc-police-intel-chief-guilty-tipping-proud-boys-leader-ahead-ja-rcna185206
* "Suspects in Vegas explosion, New Orleans attack served at same Army base, police confirm:" https://www.denver7.com/news/local-news/suspects-in-vegas-explosion-new-orleans-attack-served-at-same-army-base-sources-tell-denver7-investigates
* "Victims of Bourbon Street attack in New Orleans include former Princeton football star, aspiring nurse, loving dad:" https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-orleans-deadly-attack-new-years-victims/
* "Trump Stokes Hate With False Insinuations About New Orleans Truck Attack Suspect:" https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-anti-immigrant-new-orleans-attack_n_67765370e4b0a27885b4a456
* "Republican Steve Scalise bizarrely blames 'DEI' and 'wokeness' for New Orleans terror attack:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/steve-scalise-dei-new-orleans
* "‘Dangerous’: Trump and MAGA falsely link New Orleans attack to the border:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/-dangerous-trump-and-maga-falsely-link-new-orleans-attack-to-the-border-228370501607
* CW: Child Sex Abuse. "Survivors seek a reckoning as FBI investigates child sex abuse in little-known Christian sect:" https://apnews.com/article/christian-sect-child-sex-abuse-scandal-a94073c27168a7998c1a225f72672a3d
* "Judge rules against gender-affirming care for transgender prisoners:" https://www.advocate.com/news/judge-upholds-anti-trans-policy
* "Are Abortion Bans Across America Causing Deaths? The States That Passed Them Are Doing Little to Find Out.:" https://www.propublica.org/article/abortion-bans-deaths-state-maternal-mortality-committees?
* "Abortions are up in the U.S. It's a complicated picture as women turn to pills, travel:" https://www.mprnews.org/story/2024/12/28/abortions-are-up-in-the-us-its-a-complicated-picture-as-women-turn-to-pills-travel
* "Man arrested under Russia's 'international LGBT extremism' law dies in custody:" https://www.advocate.com/news/russia-law-man-gay-travel
* There have been rumors for a while that reached even me. "China is arresting writers for posting fanfiction and gay erotica:" https://www.advocate.com/world/china-writers-arrested-fanfiction-gay-erotica
* "J.K. Rowling falsely claims 'there are no trans kids':" https://www.advocate.com/jk-rowling-says-no-transgender-kids
* "Here are the victories for transgender people's rights in 2024:" https://www.advocate.com/news/victories-transgender-rights-2024
* "Illinois police say 11 teens brutally beat men they targeted using a gay dating app:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/illinois-teens-attack-gay-men
* "A small town's 'Pride Wall' was vandalized and taken down. They built it back even better:" https://www.advocate.com/news/photo-gallery-duvall-pride-wall
* "Dengue fever cases reach record-high in the Americas amid climate change:" https://www.euronews.com/health/2024/12/11/dengue-fever-cases-reach-record-high-in-the-americas-amid-climate-change
* "COVID-19 Turns Five Today. The Next Pandemic Is Lurking:" https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2024/12/31/COVID-19-Turns-Five-Next-Pandemic-Lurking/
* "Why protective antibodies fade after COVID-19 vaccines:" https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/why-protective-antibodies-fade-after-covid-19-vaccines
* "Accelerated kidney function decline seen with COVID-19 versus pneumonia:" https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-12-kidney-function-decline-covid-pneumonia.html
* "Prevalence of Thyroid Dysfunction During and After COVID-19 Infection:" https://www.physiciansweekly.com/prevalence-of-thyroid-dysfunction-during-and-after-covid-19-infection/
* "Paxlovid tied to lower risk of hospital stay, heart problems, death in adults with kidney disease and COVID:" https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/paxlovid-tied-lower-risk-hospital-stay-heart-problems-death-adults-kidney-disease-and
* "Many long COVID patients adjust to slim recovery odds as world moves on:" https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/many-long-covid-patients-adjust-slim-recovery-odds-world-moves-2024-11-14/
* "Who wants a pig organ? Patients sick and tired of waiting years for a transplant:" https://apnews.com/article/pig-organ-transplant-kidney-xenotransplant-revivicor-egenesis-92c378d867f6e1ed8e1587c050daf0f8
* "A Hospital Scandal That Properly Reflects our Warped New Health-Care Reality:" https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a63240620/boston-investigation-steward-health-care/
* "“I Can’t Afford My Oxygen”: The Human Toll of For-Profit Insurance:" https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/12/toll-health-insurance-industry-profits-claim-denials-delays-care-brian-thompson-unitedhealth-luigi-mangione-physicians-national-health-program/
* "The ones who need little sleep:" https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/mind/2024/genetics-of-people-who-need-little-sleep
* "South Korea to inspect Boeing aircraft as it struggles to find cause of plane crash that killed 179:" https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/south-korea-to-inspect-boeing-aircraft-as-it-struggles-to-find-cause-of-plane-crash-that-killed-179/ar-AA1wH0UX
* "Chile's giant 'living fossil' frog faces threat from climate change and humans:" https://www.reuters.com/science/chiles-giant-living-fossil-frog-faces-threat-climate-change-humans-2024-12-18/
* "Bird flu has killed 20 big cats including cougars at a U.S. wildlife sanctuary:" https://www.npr.org/2024/12/26/nx-s1-5239841/bird-flu-kills-20-cats-washington-sanctuary
* "Hungry or horny? Whale makes record swim halfway across planet:" https://bigthink.com/strange-maps/record-humpback-whale-migration/
* "A Homeowner Found Huge, Fossil Teeth While Mowing the Lawn. Then, Excavations Revealed a Complete Mastodon Jaw:" https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-homeowner-found-huge-fossil-teeth-while-mowing-the-lawn-then-excavations-revealed-a-complete-mastodon-jaw-180985703/
* "Archaeology news: New Polish Viking Sword!:"
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* "Vlad the Impaler | Extra History Complete | European History:"
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* "The Black Dinner - Scottish History - Extra History:"
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* "When the United States Tried to Get on Top of the Sex Trade:" https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/12/16/empire-of-purity-eva-payne-book-review
* "Disney's Animatronics: A Living History:"
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* "Tragedy Lingers Inside Chornobyl’s Abandoned City:" https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/abandoned-chernobyl-disaster-ukraine
* "the Sham Legacy of Richard Feynman:"
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When I got to my first college to be a philosophy monk, guys were all abuzz about "Surely You're Joking."
I intended to read it eventually, but I kept shying away instinctively. I think I subconsciously picked up on what time of guys were into Feynman.
(There was an exception, who used to also tell his dad's Feynman stories from when they were working together. These stories were amusing in a way that the Feynman Bros quoting the book weren't. He wasn't a Feynman cultist, but rather someone with stories to contribute about Feynman in Feynman based conversations, if you get my meaning.)
This piece was illuminating and helpful to me.
* "Why we will never have another president like Jimmy Carter again:" https://www.advocate.com/voices/jimmy-carter-remembered
* "President Jimmy Carter dead at 100 — here's his history as an LGBTQ+ ally:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/jimmy-carter-dead-100
* "Pete Buttigieg remembers warmth and kindness of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/pete-buttigieg-praises-jimmy-carter
* "Stacey Abrams honors Jimmy Carter: He ‘remade Democratic politics’:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/stacey-abrams-honors-jimmy-carter-he-remade-democratic-politics-228186693960
* "11 Rare Old Words for the Heinous and Villainous:" https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/83472/11-rare-old-words-heinous-and-villainous
* At bedtime Monday morning I noticed some weird things with my vision in my right eye. I looked them up and it sure sounds like a retinal tear. (I know, don't trust Web M.D., but shit is sudden, extreme and weird. I thought of alternate explanations, but I liminiated all of the non-medical ones. Fuck! Of course when everyone's off for holidays.
I have a scheduled appointment, I think for Monday. I should likely wait up and hope they are open today because it's getting worse.
* I was so exhausted I completely missed the Mummer's this year. :(
For those following the Special Assessment Saga, it was a good thing I raised and paid rent on top of what they took. Assholes still charged me a hundred dollar late fee because they fucked up December accounting. If they had taken rent instead of the third special assessment chunk without my knowledge or consent causing overdraft fees, then everything would have been paid to them on time, but I didn't know they were doing it until it was too late to fix, so here we are down an extra hundred for January with car fees and things coming due later in the month.
It will likely be all right. I will need to talk to Squirrel about it, but it will probably be all right.
I hate how extreme the punishment for doing nothing wrong has been in 2024, and it just keeps happening.
* I had so much fun with the dead podcast the back half of December. I ran out of episodes and find myself craving more.
It's an anthology series via Bloody Disgusting and the George A. Romero Foundation, so zombies.Like any anthology, so are more to my taste than others, but they were all worth listening to. They are shared universe, and do occasionally reference each other, but they also jump in time between stories and you could pretty easily listen to each story in any order. (A story is four episodes). The cast is diverse as one would expect given who is making these. The sound design fills me with horror and delight as is expected from Bloody Disgusting. For real, the zombie eating people sounds are far more awful than seeing gore on screen would be, even knowing how they were made.
Something I wanted to mention is the zombie sounds. Walking Dead is such a big thing and has been since the first episode debuted that their rattling hiss zombie vocalizations tend to be what zombies sound like now. Older media did other things: Moans, silence, even words. I have even heard a roar in one fascinating low budget one. These days though? Rattling hiss tends to be what one hears even in a lot of non Walking Dead Properties.
I like how human they made their zombie vocalizations in The Dead. I like the slow transition from a human sounding sick and in pain getting less and less articulate to what sounds a lot like me levering myself out of bed on a bad pain day and hobbling around. I like that it reminds one how human the newly turned look and sound. I like that it sounds like they could start speaking again at any moment, that the sound design of the intro encourages one to strain to catch words that never come during the episodes proper.
This thing is beautifully done and addicting, even when I know exactly how things are going to go. (This isn't a dis. Most twists in anything I will see coming).
Anyway, if you like zombie stories, I suggest checking this out.
* "Video Games & the Sexy Gender Binary:"
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* "Horror Queers: Re-Animator (1985):" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/re-animator-1985/id1449041559?i=1000643633533
* "The 25 Best Queer Films of the Century So Far :" https://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/the-25-best-queer-films-of-the-century-so-far
* "19 LGBTQ+ movies & TV shows coming in January 2025 & where to watch them:" https://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/lgbtq-movies-tv-shows-january-2025
* "Horror Queers: Strangers on a Train (1951):" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strangers-on-a-train-1951/id1449041559?i=1000649018428
* "39 Amazing And Thought-Provoking Sculptures You've Probably Never Seen Before:" https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/39-amazing-and-thought-provoking-sculptures-you-ve-probably-never-seen-before/ar-AA1tHmuz
* "Riding Through Time: Vintage Motorcycle Photos of People Posing with Pride, 1920s-1950s:" https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/people-with-motorcycles-vintage-photos/
* "Stunning Black-and-White Photos That Capture the Spirit of 1980s Hong Kong:" https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/hong-kong-photos-1980s/
* "“The Council Requires Snackies”: 50 Hilarious Pics Of Cats Grouping Together Interview With Expert:" https://www.boredpanda.com/council-of-cats-pics/
* "Sunday Sweets: Jen's Happy Cakes:" https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/sunday-sweets-jens-happy-cakes-2024
*****
* Full list of Resistance and charity links has been migrated to my profile as it was getting out of hand.
The help links are at the bottom under the cut.
* "We have a right to safety, privacy, and protest. Say no to mask bans.:" https://www.stopmaskbans.com/
* Ethical Elephant sanctuary disaster relief: https://www.tumblr.com/veluigi/769847233453719552/emergency-flood-relief?source=share
* "Trans Kids Deserve Better:" https://transkidsdeservebetter.org/support
* "Here are 26 organizations fighting Donald Trump that you can donate to:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/anti-donald-trump-charities
* Run for Something: https://runforsomething.net/
* "LGBTQ+ Victory Fund:" https://victoryfund.org/
* "Buy Native List:" https://www.beyondbuckskin.com/p/buy-native.html?m=1
* Natural fiber fabric sources to buy from for sewing: https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/768880596478984192?source=share
* "Palestine Children’s Relief Fund:" https://pcrf1.app.neoncrm.com/forms/gaza-recovery
* Disaster Preparedness stuff from the US Government: https://www.ready.gov/publications
* "My husky’s fren needs your help:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/74raKUtbCKI
( More Links Underneath: )
* "Gaza population down by 6% since start of war - Palestinian statistics bureau:" https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/gaza-population-down-by-6-since-start-war-palestinian-statistics-bureau-2025-01-01/
******
* "Palestinian-American explains why he is suing the State Department over U.S. support for Israel:" https://www.msnbc.com/ayman-mohyeldin/watch/palestinian-american-explains-why-he-is-suing-the-state-department-over-u-s-support-for-israel-227711045998
******
* "Two killed in Russian drone strike on Kyiv, Ukraine says:" https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-launches-new-year-drone-strike-kyiv-officials-say-2025-01-01/
* "Russia’s War Economy Is Hitting Its Limits:" https://foreignpolicy.com/2024/11/14/russia-war-putin-economy-weapons-production-labor-shortage-demographics/
******
* "U.S. strikes Houthi targets in Yemen after American warships attacked, CENTCOM says:" https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-strikes-houthi-targets-yemen-warships-attacked/
* "Ceasefire between Turkey and US-backed SDF in northern Syria holding, Pentagon says:" https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/ceasefire-between-turkey-us-backed-sdf-northern-syria-holding-pentagon-says-2024-12-30/
* "How Syria’s rebels overcame years of a bloody stalemate to topple Assad:" https://archive.ph/fT7tB#selection-504.0-504.1
* "An uneasy calm settles over Syrian city of Homs after outbreak of sectarian violence:" https://apnews.com/article/syria-homs-alawites-hts-assad-sectarian-6c8d534d9f93da13dc8629f2f2c49aae
* "Venezuela opposition urges protests against Maduro's inauguration:" https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20241231-venezuela-opposition-urges-protests-against-maduro-s-inauguration
* "Some missing residential school students disappeared into arranged marriages, report says:" https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/arranged-marriages-residential-schools-1.7396200
* "China-backed election raises fears of 'negative peace' in Myanmar:" https://www.voanews.com/a/china-backed-election-raises-fears-of-negative-peace-in-myanmar/7921313.html
* "U.S. Treasury says its computers were hacked by a Chinese 'threat actor' in a 'major incident':" https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/us-treasury-says-computers-hacked-chinese-threat-actor-rcna185809
* "Biden unveils final $2.5B security aid package for Ukraine:" https://www.politico.eu/article/joe-biden-announces-his-final-2-5-billion-security-aid-package-to-ukraine-war/
* "Biden honors Liz Cheney, Bennie Thompson with top civilian award:" https://www.npr.org/2025/01/02/g-s1-40817/biden-liz-cheney-presidential-citizens-medal
* It's to keep Trump from appointing extra partisan incompetents. "Biden vetoes bill that would have created dozens of new federal judge slots:" https://www.politico.com/news/2024/12/23/biden-vetoes-bill-federal-judge-slots-00195981
* "Biden administration scraps rules to expand birth control access:" https://www.politico.com/news/2024/12/23/biden-admin-birth-control-rule-00195979
* "US appeals court blocks Biden administration effort to restore net-neutrality rules:" https://www.reuters.com/legal/us-appeals-court-blocks-biden-administration-net-neutrality-rules-2025-01-02/
* "Senate Democrats blast Supreme Court's 'ethical crisis' as investigation concludes:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-democrats-blast-supreme-courts-ethical-crisis-investigation-rcna184987
* "Yellen: US will hit debt ceiling in mid- or late-January:" https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/12/27/congress/yellen-sees-u-s-hitting-debt-ceiling-in-early-2025-00196091
* "How Much Tax Do America's Undocumented Immigrants Actually Pay? [Infographic]:" https://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2016/10/06/how-much-tax-do-americas-undocumented-immigrants-actually-pay-infographic/
* "The Walmart Effect: New research suggests that the company makes the communities it operates in poorer—even taking into account its famous low prices.:" https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/12/walmart-prices-poverty-economy/681122/
* "Strike Against Amazon Ends But Teamsters Warn "Stay Tuned":" https://www.nycclc.org/news/2024-12/strike-against-amazon-ends-teamsters-warn-stay-tuned
* "House ethics watchdog unfurls campaign finance allegations against two members:" https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/01/02/congress/house-ethics-violations-allegations-00196307
* "Trump endorses Johnson for speaker:" https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/12/30/congress/trump-endorses-johnson-for-speaker-00196113
*****
* 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
*****
* "Ohio changes election forms to protect transgender political candidates:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/ohio-election-forms-transgender-candidates
* "Indiana Republicans target transgender people in one of new year’s first anti-LGBTQ+ bills:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/indiana-transgender-sports-ban
* "Florida Republican wants to ban Pride flags in public buildings:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/florida-randy-fine-pride-flags
* "Will American democracy follow Joe Biden into the sunset in 2025?:" https://www.advocate.com/voices/will-american-democracy-follow-joe-biden-into-the-sunset-in-2025
* ""This is Trump’s America now!": MAGA diehards jumpstart a new year of political violence:" https://www.salon.com/2024/12/30/this-is-trumps-america-now-maga-diehards-jumpstart-a-new-year-of-political-violence/
* ""President Musk" And The Dangers Of Plutocracy:"
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* "Why Does Elon Musk Want to Kill Wikipedia?:"
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* "Trump weighs in on H-1B visas amid legal immigration fight:" https://www.semafor.com/article/12/29/2024/trump-fails-to-clarify-stance-on-highly-sough-h-1b-visas-wanted-by-silicon-valley
* "Trump tech bros spar with MAGA loyalists online:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/trump-tech-bros-spar-with-maga-loyalists-online-228053573772
* "Elon Musk ‘melts down’ after underestimating wrath of MAGA trolls:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/elon-musk-melts-down-after-underestimating-wrath-of-maga-trolls-228186181734
* CW: Sexual Abuse. "Court rejects Trump appeal in E. Jean Carroll sexual abuse and defamation case:" https://www.npr.org/2024/12/30/nx-s1-5243228/federal-appeal-trump-e-jean-carroll
* "Former D.C. police intel chief found guilty of tipping off Proud Boys leader ahead of Jan. 6 attack:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/former-dc-police-intel-chief-guilty-tipping-proud-boys-leader-ahead-ja-rcna185206
* "Suspects in Vegas explosion, New Orleans attack served at same Army base, police confirm:" https://www.denver7.com/news/local-news/suspects-in-vegas-explosion-new-orleans-attack-served-at-same-army-base-sources-tell-denver7-investigates
* "Victims of Bourbon Street attack in New Orleans include former Princeton football star, aspiring nurse, loving dad:" https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-orleans-deadly-attack-new-years-victims/
* "Trump Stokes Hate With False Insinuations About New Orleans Truck Attack Suspect:" https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-anti-immigrant-new-orleans-attack_n_67765370e4b0a27885b4a456
* "Republican Steve Scalise bizarrely blames 'DEI' and 'wokeness' for New Orleans terror attack:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/steve-scalise-dei-new-orleans
* "‘Dangerous’: Trump and MAGA falsely link New Orleans attack to the border:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/-dangerous-trump-and-maga-falsely-link-new-orleans-attack-to-the-border-228370501607
* CW: Child Sex Abuse. "Survivors seek a reckoning as FBI investigates child sex abuse in little-known Christian sect:" https://apnews.com/article/christian-sect-child-sex-abuse-scandal-a94073c27168a7998c1a225f72672a3d
* "Judge rules against gender-affirming care for transgender prisoners:" https://www.advocate.com/news/judge-upholds-anti-trans-policy
* "Are Abortion Bans Across America Causing Deaths? The States That Passed Them Are Doing Little to Find Out.:" https://www.propublica.org/article/abortion-bans-deaths-state-maternal-mortality-committees?
* "Abortions are up in the U.S. It's a complicated picture as women turn to pills, travel:" https://www.mprnews.org/story/2024/12/28/abortions-are-up-in-the-us-its-a-complicated-picture-as-women-turn-to-pills-travel
* "Man arrested under Russia's 'international LGBT extremism' law dies in custody:" https://www.advocate.com/news/russia-law-man-gay-travel
* There have been rumors for a while that reached even me. "China is arresting writers for posting fanfiction and gay erotica:" https://www.advocate.com/world/china-writers-arrested-fanfiction-gay-erotica
* "J.K. Rowling falsely claims 'there are no trans kids':" https://www.advocate.com/jk-rowling-says-no-transgender-kids
* "Here are the victories for transgender people's rights in 2024:" https://www.advocate.com/news/victories-transgender-rights-2024
* "Illinois police say 11 teens brutally beat men they targeted using a gay dating app:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/illinois-teens-attack-gay-men
* "A small town's 'Pride Wall' was vandalized and taken down. They built it back even better:" https://www.advocate.com/news/photo-gallery-duvall-pride-wall
* "Dengue fever cases reach record-high in the Americas amid climate change:" https://www.euronews.com/health/2024/12/11/dengue-fever-cases-reach-record-high-in-the-americas-amid-climate-change
* "COVID-19 Turns Five Today. The Next Pandemic Is Lurking:" https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2024/12/31/COVID-19-Turns-Five-Next-Pandemic-Lurking/
* "Why protective antibodies fade after COVID-19 vaccines:" https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/why-protective-antibodies-fade-after-covid-19-vaccines
* "Accelerated kidney function decline seen with COVID-19 versus pneumonia:" https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-12-kidney-function-decline-covid-pneumonia.html
* "Prevalence of Thyroid Dysfunction During and After COVID-19 Infection:" https://www.physiciansweekly.com/prevalence-of-thyroid-dysfunction-during-and-after-covid-19-infection/
* "Paxlovid tied to lower risk of hospital stay, heart problems, death in adults with kidney disease and COVID:" https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/paxlovid-tied-lower-risk-hospital-stay-heart-problems-death-adults-kidney-disease-and
* "Many long COVID patients adjust to slim recovery odds as world moves on:" https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/many-long-covid-patients-adjust-slim-recovery-odds-world-moves-2024-11-14/
* "Who wants a pig organ? Patients sick and tired of waiting years for a transplant:" https://apnews.com/article/pig-organ-transplant-kidney-xenotransplant-revivicor-egenesis-92c378d867f6e1ed8e1587c050daf0f8
* "A Hospital Scandal That Properly Reflects our Warped New Health-Care Reality:" https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a63240620/boston-investigation-steward-health-care/
* "“I Can’t Afford My Oxygen”: The Human Toll of For-Profit Insurance:" https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/12/toll-health-insurance-industry-profits-claim-denials-delays-care-brian-thompson-unitedhealth-luigi-mangione-physicians-national-health-program/
* "The ones who need little sleep:" https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/mind/2024/genetics-of-people-who-need-little-sleep
* "South Korea to inspect Boeing aircraft as it struggles to find cause of plane crash that killed 179:" https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/south-korea-to-inspect-boeing-aircraft-as-it-struggles-to-find-cause-of-plane-crash-that-killed-179/ar-AA1wH0UX
* "Chile's giant 'living fossil' frog faces threat from climate change and humans:" https://www.reuters.com/science/chiles-giant-living-fossil-frog-faces-threat-climate-change-humans-2024-12-18/
* "Bird flu has killed 20 big cats including cougars at a U.S. wildlife sanctuary:" https://www.npr.org/2024/12/26/nx-s1-5239841/bird-flu-kills-20-cats-washington-sanctuary
* "Hungry or horny? Whale makes record swim halfway across planet:" https://bigthink.com/strange-maps/record-humpback-whale-migration/
* "A Homeowner Found Huge, Fossil Teeth While Mowing the Lawn. Then, Excavations Revealed a Complete Mastodon Jaw:" https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-homeowner-found-huge-fossil-teeth-while-mowing-the-lawn-then-excavations-revealed-a-complete-mastodon-jaw-180985703/
* "Archaeology news: New Polish Viking Sword!:"
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* "Vlad the Impaler | Extra History Complete | European History:"
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* "The Black Dinner - Scottish History - Extra History:"
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* "When the United States Tried to Get on Top of the Sex Trade:" https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/12/16/empire-of-purity-eva-payne-book-review
* "Disney's Animatronics: A Living History:"
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* "Tragedy Lingers Inside Chornobyl’s Abandoned City:" https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/abandoned-chernobyl-disaster-ukraine
* "the Sham Legacy of Richard Feynman:"
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When I got to my first college to be a philosophy monk, guys were all abuzz about "Surely You're Joking."
I intended to read it eventually, but I kept shying away instinctively. I think I subconsciously picked up on what time of guys were into Feynman.
(There was an exception, who used to also tell his dad's Feynman stories from when they were working together. These stories were amusing in a way that the Feynman Bros quoting the book weren't. He wasn't a Feynman cultist, but rather someone with stories to contribute about Feynman in Feynman based conversations, if you get my meaning.)
This piece was illuminating and helpful to me.
* "Why we will never have another president like Jimmy Carter again:" https://www.advocate.com/voices/jimmy-carter-remembered
* "President Jimmy Carter dead at 100 — here's his history as an LGBTQ+ ally:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/jimmy-carter-dead-100
* "Pete Buttigieg remembers warmth and kindness of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/pete-buttigieg-praises-jimmy-carter
* "Stacey Abrams honors Jimmy Carter: He ‘remade Democratic politics’:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/stacey-abrams-honors-jimmy-carter-he-remade-democratic-politics-228186693960
* "11 Rare Old Words for the Heinous and Villainous:" https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/83472/11-rare-old-words-heinous-and-villainous
* At bedtime Monday morning I noticed some weird things with my vision in my right eye. I looked them up and it sure sounds like a retinal tear. (I know, don't trust Web M.D., but shit is sudden, extreme and weird. I thought of alternate explanations, but I liminiated all of the non-medical ones. Fuck! Of course when everyone's off for holidays.
I have a scheduled appointment, I think for Monday. I should likely wait up and hope they are open today because it's getting worse.
* I was so exhausted I completely missed the Mummer's this year. :(
For those following the Special Assessment Saga, it was a good thing I raised and paid rent on top of what they took. Assholes still charged me a hundred dollar late fee because they fucked up December accounting. If they had taken rent instead of the third special assessment chunk without my knowledge or consent causing overdraft fees, then everything would have been paid to them on time, but I didn't know they were doing it until it was too late to fix, so here we are down an extra hundred for January with car fees and things coming due later in the month.
It will likely be all right. I will need to talk to Squirrel about it, but it will probably be all right.
I hate how extreme the punishment for doing nothing wrong has been in 2024, and it just keeps happening.
* I had so much fun with the dead podcast the back half of December. I ran out of episodes and find myself craving more.
It's an anthology series via Bloody Disgusting and the George A. Romero Foundation, so zombies.Like any anthology, so are more to my taste than others, but they were all worth listening to. They are shared universe, and do occasionally reference each other, but they also jump in time between stories and you could pretty easily listen to each story in any order. (A story is four episodes). The cast is diverse as one would expect given who is making these. The sound design fills me with horror and delight as is expected from Bloody Disgusting. For real, the zombie eating people sounds are far more awful than seeing gore on screen would be, even knowing how they were made.
Something I wanted to mention is the zombie sounds. Walking Dead is such a big thing and has been since the first episode debuted that their rattling hiss zombie vocalizations tend to be what zombies sound like now. Older media did other things: Moans, silence, even words. I have even heard a roar in one fascinating low budget one. These days though? Rattling hiss tends to be what one hears even in a lot of non Walking Dead Properties.
I like how human they made their zombie vocalizations in The Dead. I like the slow transition from a human sounding sick and in pain getting less and less articulate to what sounds a lot like me levering myself out of bed on a bad pain day and hobbling around. I like that it reminds one how human the newly turned look and sound. I like that it sounds like they could start speaking again at any moment, that the sound design of the intro encourages one to strain to catch words that never come during the episodes proper.
This thing is beautifully done and addicting, even when I know exactly how things are going to go. (This isn't a dis. Most twists in anything I will see coming).
Anyway, if you like zombie stories, I suggest checking this out.
* "Video Games & the Sexy Gender Binary:"
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* "Horror Queers: Re-Animator (1985):" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/re-animator-1985/id1449041559?i=1000643633533
* "The 25 Best Queer Films of the Century So Far :" https://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/the-25-best-queer-films-of-the-century-so-far
* "19 LGBTQ+ movies & TV shows coming in January 2025 & where to watch them:" https://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/lgbtq-movies-tv-shows-january-2025
* "Horror Queers: Strangers on a Train (1951):" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strangers-on-a-train-1951/id1449041559?i=1000649018428
* "39 Amazing And Thought-Provoking Sculptures You've Probably Never Seen Before:" https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/39-amazing-and-thought-provoking-sculptures-you-ve-probably-never-seen-before/ar-AA1tHmuz
* "Riding Through Time: Vintage Motorcycle Photos of People Posing with Pride, 1920s-1950s:" https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/people-with-motorcycles-vintage-photos/
* "Stunning Black-and-White Photos That Capture the Spirit of 1980s Hong Kong:" https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/hong-kong-photos-1980s/
* "“The Council Requires Snackies”: 50 Hilarious Pics Of Cats Grouping Together Interview With Expert:" https://www.boredpanda.com/council-of-cats-pics/
* "Sunday Sweets: Jen's Happy Cakes:" https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/sunday-sweets-jens-happy-cakes-2024
*****
* Full list of Resistance and charity links has been migrated to my profile as it was getting out of hand.
The help links are at the bottom under the cut.
* "We have a right to safety, privacy, and protest. Say no to mask bans.:" https://www.stopmaskbans.com/
* Ethical Elephant sanctuary disaster relief: https://www.tumblr.com/veluigi/769847233453719552/emergency-flood-relief?source=share
* "Trans Kids Deserve Better:" https://transkidsdeservebetter.org/support
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