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

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Linkee-poo has spent all my years in believing you, but I just can't get no relief

"Tim Gunn, Emmy-winning co-host of the show Project Runway, says the fashion industry is not making it work for plus-size women… In an article for The Washington Post, he called it a disgrace." Plus-sized anyone, but especially women above size 12 (which used to be size 16 - women's fashion underwent a radical "deflation" of dress sizes in the 90s to the point there is now a triple-0 size). And yes, it is a disgrace (and economically limiting as the majority of people in the US are over that size). Fashion went quickly from "models will look good in this" to "we design for the typical model body build" which happened after the advent of Twiggy which completely changed the western concept of ideal body shape. Note here, some famously "beautiful" women of the early to mid twentieth century would be considered "too fat" now.

"Oxfam has released the latest version of its ongoing series of analyses of the relative net worth of the very richest when compared to the very poorest: in this case, they found that the top 1% of Britons own more wealth than the bottom 20% of Britons combined." So, a constitutional monarchy has deplorable inequality… which is still better than inequality here in the USA (republican democracy). Well ain't that just dandy.

Oh, NPR, not you too. An article with a critique on the XKCD comic we linked to the other day. Yes, the majority of the data is from data analysis not direct observation (as the last 150 years or so are based on). However, Randall Munroe addresses this in the very cartoon they're critiquing. It's right there in-between 16000 BCE and 15500 BCE about "limit of this data". Note that the current spike is way out of bounds compared to previous moves. As the critic states, "if you take the modeling method used to create the dotted line and extend it all the way out to the present, the recent spike in the Earth's temperature would be partly smoothed." Partly smoothed. It would not erase that spike at the end. This is not a "key problem." This is baked in, it is accounted for, it is explicitly called out and explained. And it doesn't change the outcome or impact.

"Someone is extensively testing the core defensive capabilities of the companies that provide critical Internet services." Said in my best Church Lady voice,"Could it be, China?"

"US Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) yesterday proposed legislation that would allow cities and towns to build their own Internet services even in states that have laws restricting municipal broadband." You go, Rep. Eshoo. So what I think is hilarious is that the political side that believes a free market is the solution and that government anything is bloated, over-expensive, and provides poor service is the one trying to shut down municipal broadband. Surely they would want it to show just how terrible government run "businesses" can be. I mean, these muni ISPs wouldn't be able to last in a free market, right? Except they know that these services prove their ideology to be a lie. And in the process they're screwing over millions of people in suburban and rural communities that either have crappy service or expensive service, or (most often) both. (Grokked from Dan)

"From climate change and evolution to sex education and vaccination, there has always been tension between scientists and Congress. But (Lamar) Smith, who has been in Congress since 1987 and assumed the chairmanship of the Science Committee in 2013, has escalated that tension into outright war." (Grokked from Tania)

"It's the continuation of a multiyear trend of companies passing more of the costs of employee health care back onto workers." On the changing healthcare plans. I'm sure some will pass this off on Obamacare, but this trend started way, way before that (as well as double digit percentage annual increases in premiums). Or, as the article states, "Premiums have risen 20 percent since 2011, the Kaiser survey released Wednesday shows. They rose 31 percent in the previous five years and 63 percent in the five years before that." That 63% figure would have been wholly during the G W Bush administration. On the plus side, they sure are making the argument for single-payer much more attractive.

A PBS Newshour report on forced marriage in the US. "Van Harn had turned 19. She was legally an adult. There was no gun to her head, no chains around her wrists. But because of lifelong pressures from her family and her upbringing, she considers herself one of thousands of American women and girls forced into marriage each year." That's what's known as psychological abuse. And yes it still happens in the US.

A Principal in Florida says student must stand for the National Anthem or be expelled from the event. Dear Collier County School Board, be prepared to be sued for a large amount for violation of your student's First Amendment rights. Also, I wonder what they would do if a parent refused to stand? Or their star quarterback? (Grokked from Chuck Wendig)

"It can happen anywhere: that moment when you gaze at the people around you and realize you simply can't understand their politics." The Hidden Brain podcast on political allegiance and parenting styles. In my head, every time they talked about "strict father" I heard "authoritarian." I'm sure some people heard "bleeding-heart liberal" every time they said "nurturing".

"Trump's daytime TV chat about health and wellness is a savvy political stunt. The New York Times called it a 'match made on TV,' describing Oz as a 'kindred spirit — a physician who is not only Republican, but also has spent the last decade attracting an enormous following on television.'" Let us also not mention that basically he's only released a "summary", not the actual results. And it's from the same whack job that release his "he'll be the healthiest person to be President" letter earlier. Also note how he released less than promised, but is being praised for his "transparency." I call shenanigans.

"I am pleased to enclose a letter from my immigration attorney which states that, with 100% certainty, I correctly went through the legal process when arriving in the USA, (Melania) Trump wrote in a statement shared on her Twitter account." Note, that wasn't the actual question, although the lawyer assures us she wasn't in the US in 1995. Also, hey, I'm sure we can trust the immigration lawyer that worked with the Trump Modeling Agency to get the record and the law straight. Not like there needs to be a real investigation by actual investigators. You know, all those questions about other Trump models working with the wrong visa status has nothing to do with this. I'm sure it's all above board. Pay no attention to the health questions. At least it was better written than Trumpster's letter from his "doctor." (Grokked from Xopher Halftone)

Although, now the NY Post is admitting they made a mistake on the publishing dates of those photos.

Fred Clark on the use of SJW as an insult. No, it wasn't used as a complement before. No, we don't use it with each other (except now in an ironic fashion).

Rep. Steve King argues that only a "natural family" can raise a kid. As a veteran of the "broken families" hysteria of the 70s (80s and 90s), I really can't believe we're still arguing this shit. But as I've said before, these fights never die for the conservatives. They will fight until they're dead. Oh, and Rep. Steve King, as someone raised by a single mother, fuck you and the horse who rode you in.

"This push (for more "stand your ground/shoot first" laws) has come with a huge price: a 2014 study found that following the repeal of state laws requiring comprehensive background checks and purchase permits, Missouri’s gun homicide rate increased by more than 15 percent — as the national rate dropped 11 percent. Missouri now has one of the highest gun murder rates in the country… The NRA’s chief lobbyist hailed the vote as a 'great day for freedom in Missouri.'" For various values of "freedom." (Grokked from Tobias Buckell)

"'One way to generate anger in the Republican tribe is to suggest that the Obama administration has conducted a war on them. If you attach that to the IRS, it's fundraising and base gold,' (Norm) Ornstein said." The Tea Party is out for blood, and they're going to get it one way or another. In this case, they want to impeach the Chairman of the IRS. So far the Obama administration has "wriggled" out of their grasp, and they're looking like fools to those who sent them to Congress specifically to punish President Obama. So now, in the last gasps, they'll try and get whomever they can just to say they scored points.

The Newsweek report on Trumpster's businesses and how they'd be affected by a Trump presidency. "Trump’s global deals would make it impossible for him to conduct foreign policy in many countries without padding or depleting his wallet." To add to it, that "padding" part would not only be a direct padding of his wallet, but would only happen in many circumstances if the US acted against what we now consider our national interests. This is very different from the Clinton Foundation scandal even if you believe everything whispered about the Clintons. (Grokked from way too many people)

"A pastor interrupted Donald Trump during a last-minute appearance in Flint, Michigan as he veered off in a speech to attack his opponent, Hillary Clinton, reminding him he was not invited to give a 'political' speech." Wow. Slow clap. (Grokked from Mary Robinette Kowal)

And then Trumpster proceeded to attack the character of the pastor. Because of course he did. And then he mischaracterizes the audience's response. Because he always does. (Grokked from Dan)

There's been some side conversations about what "real journalism" is and the "false equivalency" going on in the press. There has been some consternation back on "what can they do"? Well, here's an example of what used to be "normal" in reporting. It's the NPR version of that article above about the Trumpster attacking the pastor who interrupted him. The tone is neutral, but the reporter says, "I was there, this is what Trump is saying, however this is what I observed." That's how it's done. (Grokked from Kelly Link)

Also, dear conservatives, one more time, SOMEONE IS ALWAYS FUCKING RECORDING THESE THINGS. In this case it was a major news organization. One that probably had logos on an actual, probably quite large and mounted on a tripod, video camera. Yes, there is video of what actually happened in that Flint Church. (Grokked from Xeni Jardin)

At this juncture I'm reminded of Jon Stewart on the Daily Show holding up a video cassette and saying, "We've taken to hiding these around the offices, just to make it sporting."

"Check out this Republican operative suggesting 'messaging widespread reports of election fraud so we are positively set up for the recount regardless of the final number.' (in an election in Wisconsin for state supreme court) This comes from from the Guardian’s collection of leaked John Doe papers." Well, yes, someone is gaming the election. (Grokked from Robert J Bennett)

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