Linkee-poo will not look for noble saints to guide me on my way

Argentavis magnificens, the world largest bird that flew. These things have fascinated me ever since I read a NatGeo article about the "reign of birds" that happened just after the dinosaurs died out. Apparently much of Central and South America was plain land with tremendous winds which supported such a population of super birds. If you don't think they would be terrifying, just google "cassowary" and see what it can do. And it's smaller than these and doesn't even fly. (Grokked from Teresa Nielsen Hayden)

"They feared witches as we fear child killers." A BBC article on the female witch-pricker of Scotland. Much about what the witch trials really were about. And if Christian Caddell' story doesn't inspire your own story bones, I don't think you're trying hard enough. (Grokked from the Slactivist)

It was the worst of times, it was the best of times. Things are so much worse now that they were in our fictional 1950s of TV sitcoms. That's an interesting article that talks about how things are now compared to the fiction in our heads. Arguments void if you're only frame of reference for reality is Fox News. (Grokked from Jay Lake)

Five things I want my daughters to learn about feminism. Which turn out to be good reference points for all of us. (Grokked from Jay Lake)

Eric with a little more on the feminism thing. I, uh, my brain hurts. Well, not really. See, if you read that quote that Eric goes off on with the understanding that Social Conservatives aren't about much more than rolling back feminism and the sexual revolution. This is why the Right to Lifers are against all the things proven to reduce the need for abortion (like contraceptives, sex education, family planning, and women's health). The quote from Suzanne Venker makes much more sense in that context.

Another entry in the "but they looked so normal" category. This time, a "cured of being gay" evangelist who created a small cult that revolved around sex and abuse and ended up with a murder. The real problem is that this will play so well into the narrative of the people they pretended to belong to and their opinion of others.

"So we had this old Cary Grant classic Room for One More on in the background this afternoon and I just heard Robert Osborne explain that after an earlier broadcast the network had been inundated by angry viewers demanding to know why they cut the word God from the pledge of allegiance in the movie." I remember having conversations like that. History, she's a bitch and you can't fix stupid. (Grokked from the Slactivist)

"Republican leaders said in proposing (Florida's voter ID) law (and reduced early voting) that it was meant to save money and fight voter fraud. But a former GOP chairman and former Gov. Charlie Crist, both of whom have been ousted from the party, now say that fraud concerns were advanced only as subterfuge for the law’s main purpose: GOP victory." The problem is that those laws are still in place and the next election, PA's voter ID law will be in full force. (Grokked from Tobias Buckell)

"The final line for me to cross in complete alienation from the right was my recognition that Obama is not a leftist. In fact, he’s barely a liberal—and only because the political spectrum has moved so far to the right that moderate Republicans from the past are now considered hardcore leftists by right-wing standards today. Viewed in historical context, I see Obama as actually being on the center-right." An economist (Bruce Bartlett) completes his journey to what the current GOP believes is the Dark Side. It's an interesting article (mentioned by Paul Krugman who acknowledges Bruce's transmogrification journey) outlining how when one joins the reality-based community, the hard right tends to throw you overboard. So one more voice saying the GOP needs reforming. However, I'm coming to the conclusion that like an addict, the GOP is addicted to their social conservatives and Fox News bubble and no amount of intervention will open their eyes. (Grokked from Teresa Nielsen Hayden)

This is what privilege looks and sounds like. Wow. Just, wow. In what dark hole must your soul live in to equate going on food stamps with a diet program that will make you look great? That is was said on Fox isn't unbelievable, but still, you expect people to have some basic ability to relate to their fellow humans. And, yeah, the term is "psychopathic." (Grokked from the Slactivist)

Tweet of my heart: @tnielsenhayden: Why we moderate: check out #1reasonwhy and see how many intelligent women are literally afraid of public online discussions.