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

Saturday, March 5, 2016

Linkee-poo finds itself surprised it doesn't have to work somewhere today

On men and the masculine in fairy tales. I think the linking of fairy tales to the feminine has to do with the prominence of women in the literary tradition and that they were relegated to "children's tales" by the Victorians, and that they include tales of female empowerment. All of this made it "cooties" to the manly men of the mid to late 20th Century. It also has to do with the fact that women are the carriers of culture, and folk tales are the stories of culture.

Jackdaws don't care for your "Historic Preservation" plans.

"In 2014, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program supported 23 million American households. The same year, 32 percent of all households who received SNAP in the previous 30 days reported they had visited a food pantry, the USDA says. And 23 percent of households using the Women, Infants and Children program visited a pantry that year, as had 23 percent of households receiving free or reduced-price school lunch." Yea, about that "livin' large on food stamps" myth… "Indeed, that study found that many SNAP clients — about 45 percent — limited food consumption, usually by skipping meals, to make it through the month. Other research has shown that hospital admissions for hypoglycemia —low blood sugar, a condition that can be treated with a healthful diet — spike by 27 percent for low-income households during that last week of the month, while high-income households show no similar trend." We may not have Kwashiorkor babies in the streets, but that doesn't mean people aren't starving in the US. I'm just pointing this out for the inevitable political debates over "entitlements".

"Dr. Inam of the NIO agrees that the danger is imminent unless drastic actions are taken. 'Time for Karachi is quickly running out,' he said. 'Some parts of Karachi’s Malir have already gone under water. And with the current rate of climate change, the economic hub of Pakistan has 35 to 45 years before it completely submerges into the Arabian Sea.'" So we have another 34 years before we need to do anything, right? (Grokked from Robert J Bennett)

"A senior Justice Department official is arguing that 3- and 4-year-olds can learn immigration law well enough to represent themselves in court, staking out an unconventional position in a growing debate over whether immigrant children facing deportation are entitled to taxpayer-funded attorneys." What the WHAT?! You! Out of the gene pool. (Grokked from Tobias Buckell)

America's lead problem. It's not just Flint. Environmental lead contamination is one of those stories I think of when people talk about how we should have less regulation and get the government out of business and the market will solve all the problems. This is why my response to those idiocies is "bullshit."

The actual cost of conservative economic theory. And now, Lousiana is looking to try and plug their budget cap by raising taxes that hit the poor harder than they do the middle and upper wage earners. That's like kicking someone when they're down. This is what the GOP is promising to bring to the national stage, and what they almost got under G w Bush. Remember Gov Jindal is a conservative icon held up for national praise for his conservative values and programs in his state. It's happening in Kansas as well. It makes me wonder just how bad Ohio's books really are. Repeat after me, tax cuts Never, Ever lead to higher revenues. (Grokked from Chia Evers)

So here in my home city (well, the closest large one) we're hosting the RNC this summer. And we're gearing up like never before. We're also in the market for 2,000 riot-control suits and collapsible batons. Know anybody? I'm sure it'll be fine.

"U.S. businesses have now added 14.3 million jobs over six straight years, extending the longest streak on record." But you wouldn't know it by the GOP rhetoric, debates, candidates. (Grokked from Jim Wright)

"Donald Trump has no business thinking he is Tea Party." They're so cute when they're so young. As was explained to me by several people in the Tea Party, sure all those ideals are good by see how angry we are. That is the Tea Party's real ideal.

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