I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence
And so the days float through my eyes
But still the days seem the same
And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They're quite aware of what they're goin' through

Friday, September 25, 2015

Linkee-poo, that's the difference between whiskey and you

So, Speaker Boehner shouts "I am hurt. A plague o' both your houses! I am sped. Is he gone, and hath nothing?" and exits stage left. Speaker Boehner was probably the last guy in the GOP house who could actually do that job (since Cantor got the boot in the primary). He looked level-headed, moderate, and capable, but remember that he was contrasted with people who make the Three Stooges look reasonable in comparison. By all accounts, however, he was a skilled politician. I think he truly believed that he could control the wave that brought him into power because new congressmen tended to look to old congressmen for mentorship. He didn't realize his looney-fringe of the party had no interest in compromise, politics as usual, or competency (that last one is the real kicker). They couldn't be reasoned with because being unreasonable was what got them elected and kept them in office.

More on that Authors Guild survey quoted in the NPR story with the Barry Eisler quote that got some action here. Kameron Hurley on the cold, hard truth about units sold per book (and other things in the publishing industry). Yes, that (pointed to by the other two people here). I'll note it was when I actually realized these numbers that I had the first thought, "Hell, I could write a book that could sell that many." Also Chuck Wendig and John Scalzi.

It's decorative gourd season, motherfuckers! McSweeneys with a holiday classic (NSFW if people can read your screen, or you read with your lips. (Grokked from Julie)

"The ongoing war in Syria has led researchers to make the first withdrawal of seeds from a 'doomsday' vault in an Arctic mountainside, to protect global food supplies." Don't worry, it's just because the seed vault in Syria was damaged. They're replacing stock. Yes, I'm being sarcastic.

Rut Rho, the FBI has recovered those emails on Hillary Clinton's email server. Things are about to get real (boring). Wake me when they find the email telling us where Hoffa is buried.

The Trumpster swears off Fox News. Next week's Trump quote, "Oh, Fox, I can't quit you."

Stephen Colbert punches his geek card with this take on the 2016 Election/Hunger Games. (Grokked from TPM)

Ted Cruz disagrees with the Pope on the death penalty, saying that it helps protect the sanctity of life because he's seen the worst of us. "'I spent a number of years in law enforcement dealing with some of the worst criminals, child rapists and murderers, people who’ve committed unspeakable acts,' Cruz (said)." The problem, Teddy, is that child sexual abuse isn't a death penalty crime.

"There are, it turns out, people in the corporate world who will do whatever it takes, including fraud that kills people, in order to make a buck. And we need effective regulation to police that kind of bad behavior, not least so that ethical businesspeople aren’t at a disadvantage when competing with less scrupulous types. But we knew that, right?" Paul Krugman on heinous fuckery. (Grokked from Morgan J Locke)

"A white Florida Republican suggested knocking a black, longtime Democratic congresswoman out of her seat by gerrymandering more prisoners into her district, according to audio obtained by Politico and published on Wednesday." Part of the Southern Strategy laid bare. I'm sure racism has nothing to do with it, and it's merely a GOP/Democratic Party issue. But we won't know because after trying to say she was just repeating what had been said in a meeting, she's now saying because it involves a pending court case she won't talk about it anymore (which, if she was a litigant, would be valid, but is bs when you're not involved directly in the case).

"A Pennsylvania lawmaker objected to accusations that he had invited a white supremacist to testify in front of a committee by clarifying that the witness was merely a white nationalist." There aren't enough faces and palms to handle a statement like that.

"'Our message is one of hope and aspiration,' (Jeb! Bush) said, according to the Washington Post. 'It isn't one of division and get in line and we'll take care of you with free stuff. Our message is one that is uplifting -- that says you can achieve earned success.'" Oh look, it's the 47% again. From the same article, and to catch up with The Jeb!, "'We're pluralistic,' Bush said on Thursday. 'We're not multicultural. We have a set of shared values that defines our national identity. And we should never veer away from that.'" I don't think he understands the words he's using.

Tweet of my heart: @downwithtyranny Want to know what the Republican health care plan for America really is? Martin Shkreli is the personification of it

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