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

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Linkee-poo, so this is Christmas, and what have we done

Some favorite books on writing. YMMV. But, there's an Xmas list. (Grokked from Mer Haskell)

The Diane Rehm show on the link between infection and mental illness.

"It’s no wonder that so many writers come across as anxious and neurotic." Kameron Hurley on the perils of being a neopro writer (although I think she's moved beyond that stage). While I haven't made it as a writer yet, I so have the feels for the middle of her essay. "It had been months since my spouse and I had even gone out to the movies. When I wasn’t working, I was thinking about what a terrible person I was for not working. The work itself started to become a way for me to avoid the stress and anxiety, because I could pour it into the work. But the work was becoming relentless. It was eating my life." Sing it, sister.

North Korean "ghost ships." They've been washing ashore in Japan. Bio warfare, defectors, lost fishing boats, no one is quite sure.

"For the first time since it instituted a warning system in 2013, Beijing has issued a 'red alert' over dangerous levels of air pollution." Drill, baby, drill.

"Disease-carrying insects have already begun to move into new territory, climbing higher up the Andes in South America and reaching farther north into Canada and the U.S. to spread what were once considered tropical diseases like West Nile virus." The good news of climate change just keeps rolling in.

"A lot has been said this weekend about remarks Jerry Falwell Jr. made in Convocation… Some authors have accused Christian leaders like Falwell of making proclamations appealing to religious authority but lacking biblical reflection. Christian antagonists often use Scriptural misinterpretations to lambast self-defense in general and gun ownership in particular. When unbelievers in his time tried to ensnare Jesus with his own teachings, Jesus replied, 'You are mistaken because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.' I believe the same can be said today of Christians and non-Christians alike who misuse Scripture to deride self (and national) defense." Bullshit. Put away thy sword, Peter. Or, as it's stated elsewhere, live by the sword, perish by the sword. Dear Professor Daniel Howell, see to your soul, because it is in mortal peril. And basing your belief on "the Jesus to come" is spurious at the best. God, when he came as the Christ, was very unlike what the Messianic Jews thought he would be like. They also believed he would come in the form of the warrior priest. You need to relearn your Bible, sir. Your previous education is deeply lacking. (Grokked from the Slactivist)

"Earlier today, FOX contributors Lt. Col. Ralph Peters and Stacey Dash made comments on different programs that were completely inappropriate and unacceptable for our air." Okay, so maybe they do have a line they wouldn't cross. It's an incredibly low one, but good to know it's there. But then, the contributors are only banned for two weeks. I wonder if Roger Ailes is making them sit in the corner with their faces to the wall?

"What’s really striking is how the ante keeps getting increased with abandon. First Trump said he would 'strongly consider' closing some mosques in America in response to the attacks. Then that morphed into the suggestion that we would have 'absolutely no choice' but to take such steps." And he keeps gaining in the polls, because he mastered the language of fear and vapidness that much of the public wants. (Grokked from Wil Wheaton)

The Trumpster wants to go see Bill Gates and close up the internet in some way. Fuck. I guess he really wants to see Bill Gates because he hasn't received that million dollar prize for his email having been chosen randomly by Microsoft to win the internet lottery. (Grokked from Dan)

And when JW Rowling weighs in to judge your campaign you really oughta reconsider your positions.

Gee, the Trumpster is a little shaky on the details of his plan? No shit. Hey, everybody, Trump isn't a details person. Has never been. Details are for the little people to figure out. Name me one thing this asshat has said where he's had the details of how his ideas will work out (let along, any actual knowledge of how our government works). Really, I'm waiting.

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