Weekend Linkee-poo tried so hard to let you go, but some kind of madness is swallowing me whole

I've got to find some time to read all this stuff. But I have to admit that I've been slacking off and I've actually watched TV with my wife for a few hours this week. That may not seem like such a miracle, but that maybe tells you what these past two years have been like. And it's not over, yet.

Visual design is not a thing. Pointed out here because, well, it explains some of the day thing for people who don't know. Maybe it clarifies things when I say "designers are not artists". Also because we're redoing the website at the day thing and I want to print this out on Monday and stick on the boss's desk. This is why at my school we had big fights over "graphic design" vs "visual communications". We're in visual communications. It goes way, far beyond the "making it pretty." Unfortunately not a lot of graphic designers understand this part. It's about story. It's about what's in the viewer's head and helping that viewer get the information they need in a form they can comprehend it. (Grokked from Kathryn Cramer)

Random Michelle's Labor Day post with pictures of why Labor Day is important.

"The amount of money employers had to pay because they were found guilty of wage theft is nearly three times greater than all the money stolen in robberies, according to a new report from the Economic Policy Institute (EPI)." That's a somewhat clumsily written statement that says when you compare the amount stolen from employees by "wage theft", that amount is 3x the amount stolen from everybody else in all other types of robberies. Tell me again how businesses must have less regulation to be successful, 'cause that never stops being funny. (Grokked from Matt Staggs, I think)

A small town in Kentucky decides to open its own gas station after years of price gouging by businesses. Don't worry, government can't compete with the private sector, we all know that. But in all seriousness, this isn't socialism, unlike what the frustrated gas station owner thinks. Socialism is when they use the power of government to take his business away and run it themselves. This is competition. And having paid the "not born and breed here" tax too many times, I say bravo to the town's mayor. "The Kentucky Petroleum Marketers Association has warned surrounding towns not to follow Somerset’s lead." To which I would tell those other towns, give them the finger and do it if it makes sense for your residents. (Grokked from the Slactivist)

"Rubio has often felt the competing pressures from the Hispanic community and the conservative activists who elevated him to the national stage." Unfortunately Sen. Rubio has decided to side with the conservative activists, turning his back on his own immigration reform bill. Dear Sen. Rubio, you would have done yourself a better favor by sticking to your own ideals and telling the party to get with the program. I understand how much that would have taken, but lots of us moderates would have respected you for it. Now, you're just another wonk. And don't think the DNC won't capitalize on that if you're able to get the nomination or even a VP pick. Not to mention the ads when you run for re-election as a Senator. And you'll deserve it all.

And now is the time on Linkee-poo where we check in with how the GOP "we won't shoot our own feet as we try to take the Senate and increase our lead in the House" plan. So, how's it going? "Rep. Steve Southerland (R-FL) tried to deflect charges of sexism by Democrats by pointing out that he lives with five women and asking if Democratic opponent Gwen Graham has ever been to a lingerie shower." We won't talk about the mens only fund raiser where the invite read, "Tell the Misses not to wait up because the after dinner whiskey and cigars will be smooth & the issues to discuss are many." Yea, that's one way to do it… wrongly.

"'What’s the harm of bombing [ISIS] at least for a few weeks and seeing what happens?'" Ah, William Kristol, why are you invited to speak to anyone about anything anymore? I understand some people's distrust and anger and President Obama's response to ISIS, but while it mean more WAR!, at least I have the feeling that the adults are in charge this time and that we're responding to an actual problem instead of using a problem to advance our pre-determined (cough New American Century cough) policy.