elenacarlena

elenacarlena https://www.dailykos.com/user/elenacarlena/rss/index.xml News Community Action Copyright 2005 - Steal what you want Sat, 22 May 2021 23:14:22 +0000 Sat, 22 May 2021 23:14:22 +0000 Daily Kos rss@dailykos.com (Daily Kos) Daily Kos rss@dailykos.com (Daily Kos) PWB Peeps: Toosdai Evening: Srs Not-Srs Poetry for Today, May 18, Illustrated! https://www.dailykos.com/story/2021/5/18/2031107/-PWB-Peeps-Toosdai-Evening-Srs-Not-Srs-Poetry-for-Today-May-18-Illustrated Welcome back to the odd and whimsical poetery of the Peeps related to holidaze! Let’s investigate <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/" target="_blank" title="">what today is</a>, because we need all the holidaze we can celebrate, right? Furtunately, our country is back to more or less normal government, about which all critters are very happy! Still, every day seems to be many holidays. Which is good, because we all have our favorites. So I will pick out one or two, and you can click the link above if you’re curious about the rest. This is an Open Thread, so please feel free to add your favorite pomes and photoes and holidaze for today in the Comments! <h3 class="AlignCenter">Today is International Dinosaur Day!</h3> <blockquote> <h4>How to Observe Dinosaur Day</h4> The best way to celebrate the day is to visit a <a href="https://www.fodors.com/news/family/worlds-best-spots-for-dinosaur-fans" target="_blank" title="">museum or other dinosaur-related attraction</a>, where fossils or bones may be viewed. You could also watch a <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-dinosaur-documentary-series/ranker-tv" target="_blank">documentary</a> about dinosaurs, or a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_featuring_dinosaurs" target="_blank">film</a> that features dinosaurs, such as Jurassic Park. If you have children, there are many <a href="http://www.playideas.com/25-dinosaur-activities-for-kids/" target="_blank" title="">dinosaur-related activities</a> they could do today. </blockquote> <h4 class="AlignCenter">Dinosaur Poem</h4> by Paul Perro (see full pome at this <a href="http://www.history-for-kids.com/dinosaurs-for-kids.html" target="_blank">link</a>) I've never seen a real dinosaur. There are none around any more. They lived in prehistoric time, Let's learn about them in this rhyme.  Dinosaurs all had tiny brains But they all had ginormous names. Triceratops, brontosaurus, Velociraptor, stegosaurus. Pterodactyl (with a silent "p"), Ichthyothaur, that thwam in the thea, And there was the Iguanodon - That one had a spike for a thumb. The big tyrannosaurus rex Was very scary, one suspects. It had a lot of big sharp teeth, And a *ROAR* that defied belief. Most dinosaurs liked plants to eat Some preferred the taste of meat. But none of them ate chocolate It had not been invented yet. [Paul Perro wrote at least 6 books for children (available on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Perro/e/B00J4DXAFQ%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share" target="_blank" title="">Amazon</a>), but I was not able to find any more details. Maybe he’ll visit and say hello!] <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="Cat haircut as dinosaur. CC general noncommercial license. " class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/807119/large/CatDinosauref1da90bbd2c9f6319ad0b9bbd8a4431.jpg?1589924433" title="Cat haircut as dinosaur. CC general noncommercial license. "> <figcaption>A dinopurr!</figcaption> </figure> </div> rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) Dinopurr Dinoroar DinosaurPoem InternationalDinosaurDay NobleFur PaulPerro PleaseFeelFreetoAddToTheseTags Recommended whimsical Whimsy _2031107 Wed, 19 May 2021 02:05:40 +0000 RCAP: Climate Emergency - Scientists Warn that Greenhouse Gases are Shrinking the Stratosphere https://www.dailykos.com/story/2021/5/13/2030349/-RCAP-Climate-Emergency-Scientists-Warn-that-Greenhouse-Gases-are-Shrinking-the-Stratosphere <div> <h4><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/may/12/emissions-shrinking-the-stratosphere-scientists-find" target="_blank">Climate emissions shrinking the stratosphere, scientists reveal</a></h4> As first reported in The Guardian, scientists wrote in the online open access journal, <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/abfe2b" target="_blank">Environmental Research Letters</a>, that they have evidence that increases in greenhouse gases are causing contraction of the stratosphere. This is the layer of atmosphere above the troposphere, which is the air we breathe.  </div> <div> <blockquote> The thickness of the atmospheric layer has contracted by 400 metres since the 1980s, the researchers found, and will thin by about another kilometre by 2080 without major cuts in emissions. The changes have the potential to affect satellite operations, the GPS navigation system and radio communications. </blockquote> <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Infrared satellite orbits Earth." src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/946387/large/SatelliteaboveEarth1983reuseNASAinfrared-astronomical-satellite-iras-1983-640.jpg?1620943400" title="Infrared satellite orbits Earth."> <figcaption>Infrared satellite over Earth</figcaption> </figure> </div> This discovery is one of several that are detailing the variety of impacts of human-caused climate change on the planet.  In the troposphere, our part of the atmosphere, increases in greenhouse gases have heated the air, so it has been expanding. However, measurements have revealed that in the stratosphere above, <a href="https://esd.copernicus.org/articles/7/697/2016/" target="_blank">carbon dioxide cools the air</a>, so it has been further contracting.  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="4256.jpg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/946346/large/4256.jpg?1620935247" title="4256.jpg"> <figcaption>Sunset over the Indian Ocean. Visible layers from Earth to space reveal yellow-orange troposphere, white clouds, pink to white stratosphere, and blue layers of upper atmosphere that gradually fade to black in outer space. (Photograph: NASA)</figcaption> </figure> </div> <figure class="width-xl"> <blockquote> The shrinking stratosphere is a stark signal of the climate emergency and the planetary-scale influence that humanity now exerts, according to Juan Añel, at the University of Vigo, Ourense in Spain and part of the research team. “It is shocking,” he said. “This proves we are messing with the atmosphere up to 60 kilometres.” </blockquote> <blockquote> “It is remarkable that we are still discovering new aspects of climate change after decades of research,” said Williams [Paul Williams, professor at University of Reading], whose own research has shown that the climate crisis could <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/article/2127050-flight-turbulence-to-get-three-times-more-common-because-of-co2">triple</a> the amount of severe turbulence experienced by air travellers. “It makes me wonder what other changes our emissions are inflicting on the atmosphere that we haven’t discovered yet.” </blockquote> This was also reported in the Yale School of the Environment: <a href="https://e360.yale.edu/digest/soaring-greenhouse-gas-emissions-are-shrinking-the-stratosphere-study-shows" target="_blank">Soaring Greenhouse Gas Emissions Are Shrinking the Stratosphere, Study Shows</a>; and The UK Sunday Times: <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/shrinking-stratosphere-leaves-satellites-in-a-spin-pzsqp3c9s" target="_blank" title="">Shrinking stratosphere leaves satellites in a spin</a>.  <h4>How much should we care about the stratosphere?</h4> As noted above, changes in the stratosphere could disrupt transportation and communication. In addition, according to the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, <a href="https://scied.ucar.edu/learning-zone/atmosphere/stratosphere" target="_blank">the stratosphere includes the ozone layer</a>. Ozone absorbs UV radiation from the sun. According to the <a href="https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/research/ozone-uv/moreinfo?view=increase-uv-radiation" target="_blank">UK Air Information Resource</a>, although there are multiple factors affecting how much UV radiation we receive, a thinner ozone layer can be expected to increase average UV rays reaching the Earth, and so increase risks of sunburn and skin cancer, as well as damage to the eyes. NASA scientists also state that <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/UVB/uvb_radiation2.php" target="_blank">increased UV radiation has a variety of effects on plants and animals, many not yet known</a>. What is known is that crops can be damaged and phytoplankton levels decrease, damaging the marine ecosystem. In turn, decrease in phytoplankton productivity lowers the amount of carbon that the oceans can absorb. So for the health of all living things on Earth, the stratosphere needs to be maintained as well as we can. <hr> <h4 class="AlignCenter">And now for something completely different: </h4> <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/904390" target="_blank">Rubber Tree - </a><a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/904390" target="_blank">Waddesdon Manor</a>: <blockquote> This Sculpture, made from recycled tyres and inner tubes, was made during the 'Mad about Waddesdon' festival on 28th/29th June 2008. It was a collaborative project, involving pupils from Waddesdon School and others who worked with Ann Carrington, the designer, over the 2 day festival to make the leaves and branches and assemble the tree. — John Firth </blockquote> <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt=" Rubber Tree - Waddesdon Manor This Sculpture, made from recycled tyres and inner tubes, was made during the 'Mad about Waddesdon' festival on 28th/29th June 2008. It was a collaborative project, involving pupils from Waddesdon School and others who worked with Ann Carrington, the designer, over the 2 day festival to make the leaves and branches and assemble the tree." src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/945709/large/rubbertiretree.png?1620725087" title=" Rubber Tree - Waddesdon Manor This Sculpture, made from recycled tyres and inner tubes, was made during the 'Mad about Waddesdon' festival on 28th/29th June 2008. It was a collaborative project, involving pupils from Waddesdon School and others who worked with Ann Carrington, the designer, over the 2 day festival to make the leaves and branches and assemble the tree."> <figcaption>John Firth / Rubber Tree - Waddesdon Manor — recycling at work (thanks Mettle Fatigue)</figcaption> </figure> </div> <hr> <h4 class="AlignCenter">Ways to Save the Planet: Summary</h4> </figure> </div> <ul> <li>Turn out the lights when not in use</li> <li>Avoid creating nighttime light pollution</li> <li>Don’t waste water</li> <li>Avoid burning wood (or other things), as wood fires are both pollutant and carcinogenic</li> <li>Don't use pesticides</li> <li>Limit your use of cars and planes (if possible)</li> <li>Don't use gas powered vehicles</li> <li>Take out grass and put in a garden or pond (or xeriscape )</li> <li>Mow, blow, and whack with electric or by hand</li> <li>Plant for the animals (bees, birds etc)</li> <li>Plant trees</li> <li>Don't micro manage yards, go wilder</li> <li>Try to use solar</li> <li>Take a bus, trolley or train</li> <li>Encourage your city/town to use electric buses</li> <li>Use energy efficient products or products that work on clean fuels</li> <li>Reduce dependence on non-biodegradable items </li> <li>Walk, bike or carpool</li> <li>Turn down the heat or AC</li> <li>Reuse items- give to Goodwill or Craig's list rather than dumping</li> <li>Cut down or cease eating meat</li> <li>Use reusable carry bags for grocerie; second choice, paper bags; not plastic</li> <li>Compost</li> <li>Save the bees</li> <li>Be informed</li> <li>Write your representative, sign petitions</li> <li>Elect pro-environment candidates and demand action </li> <li>Support the Green New Deal </li> <li>Get involved</li> <li>March</li> <li>Blog about the environment</li> <li>Control population</li> <li>Tell a friend!</li> </ul> <h2 class="AlignCenter">🌍</h2> Regenerative Culture for an Altered Planet (RCAP) diaries post every Thursday evening at 9 PM Eastern time. Each may be written by a different group member. RCAP focuses on individual actions that will help the climate. We hope you will join us for reading, following, even writing for us! Here is a handy <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/user/Regenerative%20Culture%20for%20an%20Altered%20Planet" target="_blank">link</a> to RCAP.  <hr> <h4 class="AlignCenter">If you like RCAP, you may also like these groups:</h4> GreenRevolution (GR): GR is the sister action group to RCAP. GR is a direct action environmental protest group seeking institutional action to help the climate. The two groups work in conjunction to help transform our planet before it is too late! Here is a handy <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/user/GreenRevolution" target="_blank">link</a> to GreenRevolution.  Climate Change Anxiety Support Group (CCA): Once convinced that the world is in a crisis, it is common to have anxiety, even grief. CCA is a nonpartisan support group in conjunction with the Kosability group (a group for those coping with physical and/or mental health issues). Here is a handy <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/user/Climate%20Change%20Anxiety%20support%20group" target="_blank">link</a> to CCA.  Climate Fight (CF): DKos group inspired by Governor Jay Inslee, who is putting the climate fight first. Bringing change sooner rather than later. This began as a support group for Inslee’s presidential run, but continues as support for making change to limit climate damage. Here is a handy <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/user/INSLEEClimateFirst" target="_blank">link</a> to CF.  <h4>And links to a couple outside groups of interest: </h4> <a href="https://climatepsychologyalliance.org/" target="_blank">Climate Psychology Alliance</a>: A group of academics, therapists, and others who “believe that psychological understanding can help with the wide range of complex individual and cultural responses to the environmental crisis.”  <a href="https://350.org/about/" target="_blank">350.org</a>: “An international movement of ordinary people working to end the age of fossil fuels and build a world of community-led renewable energy for all.” Click the link to see how we get there.  Many, many thanks to Angmar for finding the news and links for us! rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) Climate ClimateChange Environment GlobalWarming Green RCAP RegenerativeCulture Stratosphere _2030349 Fri, 14 May 2021 01:00:16 +0000 PWB Peeps: Toosdai Evening: Srs Not-Srs Poetry for Today, May 11, Illustrated! https://www.dailykos.com/story/2021/5/11/2030062/-PWB-Peeps-Toosdai-Evening-Srs-Not-Srs-Poetry-for-Today-May-11-Illustrated Welcome back to the odd and whimsical poetery of the Peeps related to holidaze! Let’s investigate <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/" target="_blank">what today is</a>, because we need all the holidaze we can celebrate, right? Furtunately, our country is back to more or less normal government, about which all critters are very happy! Still, every day seems to be many holidays. Which is good, because we all have our favorites. So I will pick out one or two, and you can click the link above if you’re curious about the rest. This is an Open Thread, so please feel free to add your favorite pomes and photoes and holidaze for today in the Comments! <h3 class="AlignCenter">Today is <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/4cf6423b4074b50a234f95d982ef15ad/eat-what-you-want-day" target="_blank">Eat What You Want Day</a>!</h3> <blockquote> Throw caution to the wind, put a pause on your healthy diet, and eat what you want today. Get rid of the list of foods you aren't supposed to eat, and eat your favorite food or foods, even if they are horrible for you. Eat something high in trans or saturated fats, high in sugar, or high in salt. Some say that you must still stay within your calorie range, and can just eat the type of things you want, not an unlimited amount of them. But, others say you are able to eat as much of anything you want. Of course, the one reason you shouldn't fully celebrate the day is if you have food allergies or other medical conditions that keep you from eating certain foods. </blockquote> <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Summer-sammiches-otter-reaches-for-ice-cream-attb-TheFunnyPlace-dot-org.jpg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/829362/large/Summer-sammiches-otter-reaches-for-ice-cream-attb-TheFunnyPlace-dot-org.jpg?1594257379" title="Summer-sammiches-otter-reaches-for-ice-cream-attb-TheFunnyPlace-dot-org.jpg"> <figcaption>All sorts of critters are good at eating what they want — Even if they shouldn’t otter! (h/t Dixiecollie)</figcaption> </figure> </div> <h4 class="AlignCenter"><a href="https://blog.tree.cards/poems-about-food/" target="_blank">Seven</a></h4> by <a href="https://blog.tree.cards/author/martindejnicki/" target="_blank">Martin Dejnicki</a> I'll take sweet, any day over sour, Mouth-watering pastries depend on the flour. Dessert usually comes, at the end of the meal, Sugary sensations, the taste is surreal. Belgian chocolate truffle cake, Cures every single, emotional ache. Some may say, it's a bit too rich, I'm in love, I'll never switch. How about grandma's apple pie, I don't care, if goes to my thigh. When I see it, I think of heaven, Feel so lucky, call me Seven. [Martin Dejnicki is either extremely prolific or there is more than one person with his name, so I am not sure of his biography. But more of his pomes can be found at the links above!] Elsewhere, the author states that we should eat moar fruits and veggies. I agree totally! 😁  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="IMG_0391.jpg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/898189/large/IMG_0391.jpg?1608954352" title="IMG_0391.jpg"> <figcaption>Cherry cheesecake, Oreo crust, cherry topping with a little cherry liqueur from Elena’s kitchen</figcaption> </figure> </div> <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="BunnyeatingCherriesreusePiqselsi-love-you-rabbit-cherries.jpg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/809845/large/BunnyeatingCherriesreusePiqselsi-love-you-rabbit-cherries.jpg?1590545105" title="BunnyeatingCherriesreusePiqselsi-love-you-rabbit-cherries.jpg"> <figcaption>Bunbun agrees: Fruits very tastee!</figcaption> </figure> </div> rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) aminals Animals Bunny Cats cherries Community Critters Dogs EatWhatYouWantDay ElenaCarlena ginger GingerCarlena holidaze icecream Jan4Insight LuvLee MartinDejnicki NationalHolidays OpenThread Oreo OreoCarlena Otter Peeps PleaseFeelFreetoAddToTheseTags Poem PoemsAboutFood Poetery Poetry Pome Pooties potery PWB PWBPeeps Rabbit Recommended Seven swampyankee triciawyse whimsical Whimsy Woozles _2030062 Wed, 12 May 2021 02:15:32 +0000 This Week in the War on Women, 5/2-8/2021: Funny Not-Funny Edition https://www.dailykos.com/story/2021/5/8/2029602/-This-Week-in-the-War-on-Women-5-2-8-2021-Funny-Not-Funny-Edition Since I consider myself a sometime comedian, I thought I would look into how things are going in the comedy world since the Louis CK scandal and #MeToo. Welp, as you might expect, things are not particularly good.  As you might recall, the comedian was accused by several women of harassment, and we kind of thought his career ended at that time in 2017. I was surprised to learn that <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2020/04/05/louis-c-k-returns-first-comedy-special-since-me-too-allegations/2950526001/" target="_blank">he actually pretty much admitted what he was accused of</a>; which I suppose is better than some, such as $Rump complaining that all his female accusers are lying. His nopology included the belief that he needed to take time off “to listen”. Eye roll. Guys: If you are masturbating in front of people in the workplace, you are acting inappropriately and you are making people uncomfortable. Louis really needed to hear this? This should not need to be made explicit since well before the time a young man is old enough to work.  Welp, in 2020 Louis CK came back with his Nopology Tour (not its official name). <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2020/04/05/louis-c-k-returns-first-comedy-special-since-me-too-allegations/2950526001/" target="_blank">He doubled down</a>:  <blockquote> Man, I was in a lot of trouble. Wait 'till they see those pictures of me in blackface. That's gonna make it a lot worse, because there's a lot of those. There's thousands of pictures of me in blackface. I can't stop doing it. I like it. I like how it feels. </blockquote> Oh great, let’s add a little racism to our sexism. Yes, I know, it’s a “joke”. But here’s the thing, and it’s why Reptublican “comedians” are never funny: Real comedy punches up, not down. So it’s OK, for example, for me to say that Chuck Schumer needs to get his caucus into line: McConnell is like the head of the lion pride cuffing the cubs until they know who is the boss. Schumer is more like the human with pussycats who refuse to eat, trying an ever-expanding line of treats in a futile attempt to elicit cooperation. (The below is not 100% representative of the situation. Manchin wishes he looked this good!) <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Cat with assortment of treats. Public CC permissions." src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/827528/large/CatwithFoodreuseFlickr29331346151_981cf98930_b.jpg?1593834218" title="Cat with assortment of treats. Public CC permissions."> <figcaption>“A 28% corporate tax is still too much. And the whole package is too costly. Give in more.” </figcaption> </figure> </div> OTOH, it is not OK, for example, for me to make fun of the homeless and jobless, especially during the pandemic, and suggest that they could and should just pull themselves up by their own bootstraps. Racist, sexist, classist “jokes” are just cruel.  But of course, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2020/aug/05/creepy-uncomfortable-sexism-harassment-assault-faced-by-female-standups" target="_blank">when women comedians object to sexual harassment on the job, the response is often “We were just joking.”</a> And the Powers That Be can level accusations that are more deadly in this field than any other: “You have no sense of humor. You can’t take a joke.” And women’s prospects for employment immediately plummet downward.  Of course, women push back. <a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/comedy-me-too-katherine-ryan-shappi-khorsandi-a4489906.html" target="_blank">There has been more discussion than usual online during the pandemic</a>, whilst comedy clubs have mostly been closed and what comedy is available is online. As women speak out, more women feel empowered to speak out. Some men have been publicly accused, although they have not felt much by way of consequences. Others remain in the women’s whisper network — “There is apparently a growing WhatsApp list of male comics to avoid.” There are attempts to get organised. In the UK, “The Live Comedy Association was recently formed with the aim of helping comedians during lockdown.” They have made their opposition to harassment and abuse explicit. Similarly, in Wales, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-56339062" target="_blank">women have formed an “HR service” called Get Off</a>, which collects funds from comedy venues to provide women with some protection.  Interestingly, in the United States, so far I was not able to find any such organised efforts. However, US <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2020/06/20/chris-delias-co-star-whitney-cummings-comments-sex-abuse-allegations/3230921001/" target="_blank">female comedians are supporting each other in their efforts to expose abusive men.</a> So far, however, the main result seems to have been that accused men promise to “do better”. Eye roll again!  Abuse and harassment need to be treated as the crimes that they are. They are a drag on our entire society. Bullies are unlikely to restrict their behavior. Men who abuse women likely also intimidate other men. The worst abusers become mass murderers. We have seen many of those links here, so I won’t link them again. But in the comedians’ world as everywhere else, prosecutors need to start taking these actions seriously and pursuing criminal charges. If they do, women will be more safe. The entire world will be more safe.  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="OrangutanbehindBarsreusePixabayorangutan-5624107_1280.jpg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/944989/large/OrangutanbehindBarsreusePixabayorangutan-5624107_1280.jpg?1620510533" title="OrangutanbehindBarsreusePixabayorangutan-5624107_1280.jpg"> <figcaption>Where OranguTrump and all predators belong</figcaption> </figure> </div> rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) Doctors End1033 HappyMothersDay JessicaWachter LouisCK MeToo NIST nopology Recommended SEC SexualHarassment STEM ThisWeekintheWaronWomen twitwow ViolenceAgainstWomen WarOnWomen WomenInEconomics womeningovernment WomenInMedicine WomeninSTEM wow1 _2029602 Sun, 09 May 2021 00:30:12 +0000 PWB Peeps: Toosdai Evening: Srs Not-Srs for Today, May 4, Illustrated! https://www.dailykos.com/story/2021/5/4/2028971/-PWB-Peeps-Toosdai-Evening-Srs-Not-Srs-for-Today-May-4-Illustrated Welcome back to the odd and whimsical poetery of the Peeps related to holidaze! Let’s investigate <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/" target="_blank">what today is</a>, because we need all the holidaze we can celebrate, right? Furtunately, our country is back to more or less normal government, about which all critters are very happy! Still, every day seems to be many holidays. Which is good, because we all have our favorites. So I will pick out one or two, and you can click the link above if you’re curious about the rest. This is an Open Thread, so please feel free to add your favorite pomes and photoes and holidaze for today in the Comments! <h3 class="AlignCenter">Today is Renewal Day!</h3> <blockquote> <a href="http://holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/May/renewalday.htm" target="_blank">Renewal Day is an absolutely spectacular day</a>. It's a day of new, and old, beginnings. Things get old and out of sorts. We lose touch with friends, loved ones, and relationships. For whatever reason, we "let "it" go. Well, whatever "it" is, today is the day to renew it, rejuvenate it, and bring the spark back into it. -snip- Renewal Day is not limited to renewing relationships and social issues. You can also renew: <ul> <li>Your nails</li> <li>Your hair color and/or style.</li> <li>Your figure</li> <li>Your hardwood floors</li> <li>The shine on your car.</li> <li>Your driver's license</li> <li>A favorite magazine subscription</li> </ul> Get the picture? Good. Now, get into Renewal Day!  </blockquote> <h4 class="AlignCenter">Relations Unmediated</h4> from <a href="https://thewordaliveandactive.com/2019/07/02/nine-poems-of-renewal/" target="_blank">Nine Poems of Renewal</a> by Daniel Lichtenstein-Boris There will be a day that we will meet And brush our feet in soft sweet grass And brush aside those walls of thorns That hide our past defend the self <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Cat upside down in grass" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/943636/large/CatinGrassreusePixabaygrass-3248641_1280.jpg?1620180277" title="Cat upside down in grass"> <figcaption>Brush feet AND fayce in grass!</figcaption> </figure> </div> I had a dream that outside these walls Our hidden hovels our cellphone screens We’d dance in forests green and damp And to the leaves and bark would sing <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Moose in damp green. Entire website gives permission for free use, AFAICT. " src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/943638/large/MooseinGreenForestreuseSnappygoatAllImagesAllowedFree7ed1f81ffef58e46eec8e35306e4b3523553ea32.jpg?1620180517" title="Moose in damp green. Entire website gives permission for free use, AFAICT. "> <figcaption>Maybe not dancing, but very green and damp!</figcaption> </figure> </div> To unleash the spirit from its chains And the mountains and sea would unveil a path A place where one could breathe the rushing air That no time clock brand or code constrains <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="SheeponMountainpathreusePixabaysheeps-93012_1280.jpg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/943642/large/SheeponMountainpathreusePixabaysheeps-93012_1280.jpg?1620180768" title="SheeponMountainpathreusePixabaysheeps-93012_1280.jpg"> <figcaption>“This here mountain path is good enough for us!” (they said sheepishly)</figcaption> </figure> </div> Free of measured time and egos spent In some clear fresh place to love and reflect <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Dogs on Beach. Free to reuse. " src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/943643/large/DogsonbeachreuseSnappyGoat1295f0713f92c2378f1448626219e0911ffd323e.jpg?1620181048" title="Dogs on Beach. Free to reuse. "> <figcaption>Loving woozles by the sea!</figcaption> </figure> </div> [<a href="https://thewordaliveandactive.com/daniel-lichtenstein-boris/" target="_blank">Daniel Lichtenstein-Boris</a> states that he has been engaged in struggles for social justice for 20 years, including over 10 as a professional union and community organizer, researcher, and campaigner. “I see the world, and want to change it.  I believe in a vision of a better society.  I believe in you, and I believe that together we can be what we will to be. I am just another Human, Being.”] rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) aminals Animals Cats Community Critters DanielLichtensteinBoris Dogs ElenaCarlena ginger GingerCarlena holidaze Horses Jan4Insight LuvLee Moose NationalHolidays NinePoemsOfRenewal OpenThread Oreo OreoCarlena Peeps PleaseFeelFreetoAddToTheseTags Poem Poetery Poetry Pome ponies Pooties potery PWB PWBPeeps Recommended RelationsUnmediated RenewalDay Sheep swampyankee triciawyse whimsical Whimsy Woozles _2028971 Wed, 05 May 2021 02:26:43 +0000 PWB Peeps: Toosdai Evening: Moar computter problems edition https://www.dailykos.com/story/2021/4/27/2027935/-PWB-Peeps-Toosdai-Evening-Moar-computter-problems-edition Welp, again the computter and/or DKos is not cooperating this evening. So we will do another quickie. We did A-D last week, with E in the Comments, so let’s proceed!  F is for fowl:  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="Chickens_Silkie_650x397xAmazing-Fluffy-Animals.jpg.pagespeed.ic.OX4qDuIjFP_1_.jpg" class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/339677/large/Chickens_Silkie_650x397xAmazing-Fluffy-Animals.jpg.pagespeed.ic.OX4qDuIjFP_1_.jpg?1481846437" title="Chickens_Silkie_650x397xAmazing-Fluffy-Animals.jpg.pagespeed.ic.OX4qDuIjFP_1_.jpg"> <figcaption>“Who says we can’t be furbutts too?”</figcaption> </figure> </div> G is for guinea pigs:  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="Guinea_Pig_and_Candles_reuse_Undercover_Guinea_Pigs_DSCF0978.JPG" class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/635308/large/Guinea_Pig_and_Candles_reuse_Undercover_Guinea_Pigs_DSCF0978.JPG?1548190417" title="Guinea_Pig_and_Candles_reuse_Undercover_Guinea_Pigs_DSCF0978.JPG"> <figcaption>“Add us to your candle lighting ceremonies for extra good luck!”</figcaption> </figure> </div> H is for hedgehogs:  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="A adult European Hedgehog with her newborn child. The child (left) is trying to get to the mother&#39;s teats while the mother (right) is being cautious towards the camera." class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/913350/large/HedgehogsEuropeanreuseWikipediaEuropean_Hedgehog_Mother_and_Child.jpg?1612322055" title="A adult European Hedgehog with her newborn child. The child (left) is trying to get to the mother&#39;s teats while the mother (right) is being cautious towards the camera."> <figcaption>Mom and baby. OMG, so adorable!!</figcaption> </figure> </div> And I is for iguana:  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="Punny_4_iguana_attb_imglip_dot_com.jpg" class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/570394/large/Punny_4_iguana_attb_imglip_dot_com.jpg?1532636871" title="Punny_4_iguana_attb_imglip_dot_com.jpg"> <figcaption>Can’t leave out the leatherbutts! (h/t Dixiecollie)</figcaption> </figure> </div> And so we begin and end with puns. Sorry not sorry. This is an Open Thread. Hopefully the computter will behave now. Get yer Comments, get yer Comments here early in case I get thrown out again!  rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) aminals Animals Birds Cats Chickens Community Critters ElenaCarlena Fowl frogs Furbutts giraffes guineapigs HedgeHOGS Hippos iguanas Impalas leatherbutts OpenThread Peeps PleaseFeelFreetoAddToTheseTags Pooties puns PWB PWBPeeps Recommended _2027935 Wed, 28 Apr 2021 02:07:12 +0000 PWB Peeps: Toosdai Evening: Cannot Swallow Edition https://www.dailykos.com/story/2021/4/20/2026877/-PWB-Peeps-Toosdai-Evening-Cannot-Swallow-Edition Welp, I made a lovely chicken dinner with cheesy mashed potatoes and squash blend and bourbon chicken gravy. But my esophagus is slowly tightening back up and I mistakenly thought I could eat the squash, but it stuck in my throat. So I have been trying to get food unstuck and swallow something else for the last 2+ hours. I have finally succeeded with water and medicine. So I’ll just post a quick open thread and then go back to see if after a break I can manage some gravy or milk.  A is for Aminals <a href="https://icanhasscience.com/fun-stuff/animals-and-aminals-and-two-kinds-of-metathesis/" target="_blank">This is a thing</a> besides me being silly! I did not know that.  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="ZebrasreuseWikimediaCommonsZebra_Botswana_edit02.jpg" class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/939524/large/ZebrasreuseWikimediaCommonsZebra_Botswana_edit02.jpg?1618971539" title="ZebrasreuseWikimediaCommonsZebra_Botswana_edit02.jpg"> <figcaption>Silly aminals… uh, animals…. Do zebras attack? They look a bit offended. </figcaption> </figure> </div> B is for Birdeez An occasion to use one of my favorite montages!  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="Birds_Rainbow_4bc21b459caf3971a55e596d94a2f1bb_1_.jpg" class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/340620/large/Birds_Rainbow_4bc21b459caf3971a55e596d94a2f1bb_1_.jpg?1482101411" title="Birds_Rainbow_4bc21b459caf3971a55e596d94a2f1bb_1_.jpg"> <figcaption>So colourful!</figcaption> </figure> </div> C is for Cats (Pooties)  Of course it is!  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="Oreo_and_Ginger_pastiche.jpg" class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/305487/large/Oreo_and_Ginger_pastiche.jpg?1475156524" title="Oreo_and_Ginger_pastiche.jpg"> <figcaption>Did someone say pooties?</figcaption> </figure> </div> D is for Dogs (Woozles)  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="beach dogs" class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/477329/large/IMG_9071.jpg?1511788404" title="beach dogs"> <figcaption>On tropical vacation, what a great idea! Some day we will travel again….</figcaption> </figure> </div> And that’s enough for this time, as I’m already late. This is an Open Thread. Next, fingers and paws crossed for an Open Throat! Please chat amongst yourselves whilst observing all the Roolz.  rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) aminals Animals Birdeez Birds Cats Community Critters Dogs ElenaCarlena ginger GingerCarlena OpenThread Oreo OreoCarlena Peeps PleaseFeelFreetoAddToTheseTags Pooties PWB PWBPeeps Recommended Woozles zebras _2026877 Wed, 21 Apr 2021 02:30:44 +0000 PWB Peeps: Toosdai Evening: Srs Not-Srs Poetry for Today, April 13, Illustrated! https://www.dailykos.com/story/2021/4/13/2025810/-PWB-Peeps-Toosdai-Evening-Srs-Not-Srs-Poetry-for-Today-April-13-Illustrated Welcome back to the odd and whimsical poetery of the Peeps related to holidaze! Let’s investigate <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/" target="_blank">what today is</a>, because we need all the holidaze we can celebrate, right? Furtunately, our country is back to more or less normality, about which all critters are very happy! Still, every day seems to be many holidays. Which is good, because we all have our favorites. So I will pick out one or two, and you can click the link above if you’re curious about the rest. This is an Open Thread, so please feel free to add your favorite pomes and photoes and holidaze for today in the Comments! <h3 class="AlignCenter">Today or Last Week is/was National Library Workers Day!</h3> Our usual day to day calendar seems <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/881f9d1c21750fa287e18f7d921dda74/national-library-workers-day" target="_blank">quite certain that it is the Toosdai of the second full week in April</a>. However, their linky, the <a href="https://ala-apa.org/nlwd/" target="_blank">American Library Association</a>, states that it was April 6 this year (and that it takes place during National Library Week, which was April 4-10 in 2021). But since we had computer problems last week and didn’t recognize a day, we’ll recognize library staff today either way! From the second linky: <blockquote> While we cannot have in-person celebrations, it is still a good time to highlight the critical role library workers play in keeping our libraries running. -snip- What is National Library Workers Day? NLWD is a day for library staff, users, administrators and Friends groups to recognize the valuable contributions made by all library workers. On January 25, 2003, a resolution was proposed: That in order to recognize the hard work, dedication, and expertise of library support staff and librarians that the Tuesday of National Library Week be designated National Library Workers Day; and, that on that day, interested library workers, library groups, and libraries should advocate for better compensation for all library workers. </blockquote> Libraries and librarians are invaluable. Like they say, Google will give you answers to your questions. A librarian will give you the correct answers to your questions. During the pandemic, many libraries and librarians have remained available online.  <h4 class="AlignCenter">In The Library</h4> by Charles Simic There’s a book called A Dictionary of Angels. No one had opened it in fifty years, I know, because when I did, The covers creaked, the pages Crumbled. There I discovered  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Snow-angels-cat-says-grass-angels-harder-cheezburger.jpg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/912442/large/Snow-angels-cat-says-grass-angels-harder-cheezburger.jpg?1612072464" title="Snow-angels-cat-says-grass-angels-harder-cheezburger.jpg"> <figcaption>(h/t Dixiecollie)</figcaption> </figure> </div> The angels were once as plentiful As species of flies. The sky at dusk Used to be thick with them. You had to wave both arms Just to keep them away. <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="cat waving" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/528708/large/cat_saves_table.jpg?1523037562" title="cat waving"> <figcaption>Waving one arm (h/t PinotBlue)</figcaption> </figure> </div> Now the sun is shining Through the tall windows. The library is a quiet place. Angels and gods huddled In dark unopened books. The great secret lies On some shelf Miss Jones Passes every day on her rounds. <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Lent-golden-retriever-dog-library-books-returned-imgflip.jpg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/920749/large/Lent-golden-retriever-dog-library-books-returned-imgflip.jpg?1614147252" title="Lent-golden-retriever-dog-library-books-returned-imgflip.jpg"> <figcaption>Sunshiny liberry employee (h/t Dixiecollie)</figcaption> </figure> </div> She’s very tall, so she keeps Her head tipped as if listening. The books are whispering. I hear nothing, but she does. <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Cat_Library_larger_CQ_Pinterest.jpg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/462686/large/Cat_Library_larger_CQ_Pinterest.jpg?1508448780" title="Cat_Library_larger_CQ_Pinterest.jpg"> <figcaption>If not tall enough, can use ladder. </figcaption> </figure> </div> (Charles Simic is widely recognized as one of the most visceral and unique poets writing today. His work has won numerous awards, among them the 1990 Pulitzer Prize, a MacArthur Foundation “genius grant,” the Griffin International Poetry Prize, the Wallace Stevens Award, and the appointment as US poet laureate. Much more about his amazing background <a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/charles-simic" target="_blank">here</a>.)  More great liberry pomes <a href="http://transactionswithbeauty.com/home/5poemsaboutlibraries" target="_blank">here</a>! rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) aminals Animals Cats CharlesSimic Community Critters Dogs ElenaCarlena ginger GingerCarlena holidaze InTheLibrary Jan4Insight Liberries Librarians LuvLee NationalHolidays NationalLibraryWorkersDay NobleFur OpenThread Oreo OreoCarlena Peeps PleaseFeelFreetoAddToTheseTags Poems Poetery Poetry pomes Pooties potery PWB PWBPeeps swampyankee TaxDay TransactionsWithBeauty triciawyse whimsical Whimsy Woozles _2025810 Wed, 14 Apr 2021 02:23:39 +0000 PWB Peeps: Toosdai Evening: Quickie https://www.dailykos.com/story/2021/4/6/2024733/-PWB-Peeps-Toosdai-Evening-Quickie 5 PM: Welp, my computer is truly borked, and wouldn't you know it finally fails on Toosdai when I have a diary to write? So I'm using the tablet and I don't know how you tablet users manage. Sure, it gives suggestions as I slowly thumb my way along, but usually not the right ones until I only have one more letter to type!  So I'ma not gonna try a whole diary (suggestion there was "diarrhea," which almost fits humorously, actually). Please comment in this openest of open threads and I hope to be back to full speed and poetery next week!  The aminals are not good spellers, as you know, so think we're talking quiche not quickie! The woozles want you to check out We Are Not Martha with her very cute doggie, <a href="https://wearenotmartha.com/chicken-sausage-kale-quiche-for-dogs/" target="_blank">wearenotmartha.com/...</a>  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="Be-patient-two-white-dogs-almost-there-memegenerator.jpg" class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/878762/large/Be-patient-two-white-dogs-almost-there-memegenerator.jpg?1604535556" title="Be-patient-two-white-dogs-almost-there-memegenerator.jpg"> <figcaption>Almost to the quickie quiches! (h/t Dixiecollie)</figcaption> </figure> </div> The pooties want you to know that they are also interested too!  <div class="dk-editor-embed center-block" data-twitter-content="&lt;blockquote class="twitter-tweet"&gt;&lt;p lang="en" dir="ltr"&gt;Cheers! (Psst, martini and quiche for me, not the cat. He’s just an interested bystander.) &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/clink?src=hash&amp;amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;#clink&lt;/a&gt; &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Friyay?src=hash&amp;amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;#Friyay&lt;/a&gt; &lt;a href="https://t.co/W6IBdQgKDR"&gt;pic.twitter.com/W6IBdQgKDR&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;— Kris Waldherr (@kriswaldherr) &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/kriswaldherr/status/1081362290232999936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;January 5, 2019&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;"><div class="remove-embed-content">x</div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Cheers! (Psst, martini and quiche for me, not the cat. He’s just an interested bystander.) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/clink?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#clink</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Friyay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Friyay</a> <a href="https://t.co/W6IBdQgKDR">pic.twitter.com/W6IBdQgKDR</a>— Kris Waldherr (@kriswaldherr) <a href="https://twitter.com/kriswaldherr/status/1081362290232999936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2019</a></blockquote></div> Welp, maybe I have time for a bit of poetery, fit for the occasion.  <h4 class="AlignCenter">Ode to my Old Laptop</h4> by Elena Carlena There was an old laptop so warm,  Pooties cuddling on it brought it to harm.  I opened the top  And cleaned up the slop,  But it would not return to its norm!  Update: 10 PM: The laptop is working at the moment! Maybe it needed to rest after its cleaning? Who knows?! If it fails again, though, I must go shopping. So if I suddenly disappear, you know I’m perusing computers at MalWart! rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) aminals Animals Cats Community Computerfail Computers Critters Dogs ElenaCarlena ginger GingerCarlena limerick OpenThread Peeps PleaseFeelFreetoAddToTheseTags Poem Poetery Poetry Pome Pooties potery PWB PWBPeeps Recommended Woozles _2024733 Wed, 07 Apr 2021 02:00:28 +0000 Happy April Fools' Day! Pranking For Fun, Not Profit :-D https://www.dailykos.com/story/2021/4/1/2024000/-Happy-April-Fools-Day-Pranking-For-Fun-Not-Profit-D Happy April Fool’s Day! And now for something completely different. No politics. Just a few fun pranks I found on the Internet. It is also my birthday, so I get to be silly. So here’s a big list, <a href="https://bestlifeonline.com/harmless-april-fools-pranks/" target="_blank" title="">The 48 Best Harmless April Fools’ Pranks to Pull This Year</a>. But as I read, I think maybe not so harmless! But here’s a good one: Reverse someone’s silverware drawer! If this is you or someone you know: <blockquote>  They know exactly where the forks and spoons belong, to the point where they could reach in blindfolded and find exactly what they need.  </blockquote> Then mix it up or at least reverse it. Forcing yourself to think could help brain function! It may not be as big a change as <a href="https://www.goodfinancialcents.com/benefits-of-using-your-opposite-hand-grow-brain-cells-while-brushing-your-teeth/#:~:text=Using%20your%20opposite%20hand%20will,computer%20mouse%20or%20television%20remote." target="_blank">using your opposite hand and making new neural connections,</a> but should be pretty close! So if you know someone super-organized, make them move in new ways! Note that this does NOT include the suggested switch (at the linky above) of everyone’s underwear drawers! Ew! That’s a little bit too much mixing it up. Unless you buy all new for the occasion. Replace all the photos in someone’s house with photos of Guy Fieri. Or anyone else of your choice. Or pooties or woozles. Or wild animals. See how long it takes for them to notice! If you really have time on your hands, <a href="https://www.travelandleisure.com/animals/couple-builds-home-art-museum-pet-cat" target="_blank">recreate classic paintings with pooties</a>: <div class="dk-editor-embed center-block" data-twitter-content="&lt;blockquote class="twitter-tweet"&gt;&lt;p lang="en" dir="ltr"&gt;Week 8 of lockdown: My girlfriend made an art gallery for our cat. &lt;a href="https://t.co/LDXKFmf4ST"&gt;pic.twitter.com/LDXKFmf4ST&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;— Jake Lambert (@LittleLostLad) &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/LittleLostLad/status/1261225456029835264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;May 15, 2020&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;"><div class="remove-embed-content">x</div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Week 8 of lockdown: My girlfriend made an art gallery for our cat. <a href="https://t.co/LDXKFmf4ST">pic.twitter.com/LDXKFmf4ST</a>— Jake Lambert (@LittleLostLad) <a href="https://twitter.com/LittleLostLad/status/1261225456029835264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2020</a></blockquote></div> <a href="https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/g31094996/best-april-fools-pranks/" target="_blank">Here’s another list of 15 “best” “family-friendly” April Fool’s pranks</a>. Some are repeats, but here are a few more we think aren’t too mean: Place bubble wrap under a rug. Especially good for waking people up in the morning. It may startle them at first until they figure out what’s making that noise, but then who can resist popping bubble wrap? You’ll probably find the “victim” shortly jumping for joy! <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="Even puppies like to play with bubble wrap!" class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/932408/large/DogwithBubbleWrapreuseFlickr17866772208_a51c4cca72_b.jpg?1617139410" title="Even puppies like to play with bubble wrap!"> <figcaption>Everyone likes to play with bubble wrap!</figcaption> </figure> </div> Make undrinkable drinks. I’m not a fan of Jello, but if you are, this is a unique dessert presentation! <blockquote> Whip up some Jello and let it set in juice glasses, complete with a straw in each. Serve them up to guests’ surprise: Those “drinks” aren’t liquid at all, and those straws will get them nowhere. </blockquote> Follow up with spoons so they don’t go to waste! And finally, <a href="https://www.backintimegifts.com/products/newspaper-print" target="_blank">leave a personalized newspaper page</a>. This prank works especially well if you know anyone still receiving a newspaper delivered to their door! You’ll have to get up super-early, but cover the front of their newspaper with their personalized page and refold and wrap it back up. Surprise! These are often done for birthdays, but can be done for any occasion. <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="Oreoreadingnewspaper.jpg" class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/824411/large/Oreoreadingnewspaper.jpg?1593204611" title="Oreoreadingnewspaper.jpg"> <figcaption>Oreo Carlena reads his newspaper — this one was not purrsonalized, but he doesn’t care, it was in his way on Mom’s lap!</figcaption> </figure> </div> Are you celebrating today? What are your favorite April Fool’s pranks? This is an Open Thread. Please share in Comments! Enjoy! rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) April1 AprilFirst aprilfool AprilFoolsDay AprilTheFirst ArtGallery BathroomPants BrainExercise BubbleWrap Cats ClassicPaintings Community Dogs ElenaCarlena Fun HarmlessFun jello JelloDrinks LiloTheCat Newspapers notserious OpenThread OreoCarlena PersonalizedNewspaper PhotoPhool PhotoSwitch PleaseFeelFreetoAddToTheseTags Pooties Pranks RustlingRug Silly Silverware SilverwareSwitch Woozles _2024000 Thu, 01 Apr 2021 21:20:08 +0000 PWB Peeps: Toosdai Evening: Srs Not-Srs Poetry for Today, March 30, Illustrated! https://www.dailykos.com/story/2021/3/30/2023692/-PWB-Peeps-Toosdai-Evening-Srs-Not-Srs-Poetry-for-Today-March-30-Illustrated Welcome back to the odd and whimsical poetery of the Peeps related to holidaze! Let’s investigate <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/" target="_blank" title="">what today is</a>, because we need all the holidaze we can celebrate, right? Furtunately, our country is back to more or less normality, about which all critters are very happy! Still, every day seems to be many holidays. Which is good, because we all have our favorites. So I will pick out one or two, and you can click the link above if you’re curious about the rest. This is an Open Thread, so please feel free to add your favorite pomes and photoes and holidaze for today in the Comments! <h3 class="AlignCenter">Today is National Virtual Vacation Day!</h3> <blockquote> <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/0c78cce475131b53400478a2d32c6bc4/national-virtual-vacation-day" target="_blank" title="">National Virtual Vacation Day</a> reminds people that they don't have to wait until some time in the distant future—when they have more money or are retired—to go on their dream vacations. On National Virtual Vacation Day, they don't need to take off work, don't need to spend money, and don't need to pack. With their imagination and a bit of technology, they can travel all over the world. </blockquote> <h4 class="AlignCenter">If Once You Have Slept On An Island</h4> by Rachel Lyman Field If once you have slept on an island You'll never be quite the same; <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="Ponies on Chincoteague Island, Virginia" class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/932455/large/PoniesonChincoteagueIslandreusePixabaychincoteague-island-4033204_1280.jpg?1617156408" title="Ponies on Chincoteague Island, Virginia"> <figcaption>Ponies on Chincoteague Island, Virginia</figcaption> </figure> </div> You may look as you looked the day before And go by the same old name, You may bustle about in street and shop You may sit at home and sew, <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="Cat sleeping in front of sewing machine! On Flickr with Creative Commons license for sharing." class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/932460/large/CatandSewingMachinereuseFlickrCClicense4234289766_6beeb4590a_b.jpg?1617156758" title="Cat sleeping in front of sewing machine! On Flickr with Creative Commons license for sharing."> <figcaption>Pootie dreaming of sewing or birdeez wheeling by the sea?</figcaption> </figure> </div> But you'll see blue water and wheeling gulls Wherever your feet may go. You may chat with the neighbors of this and that And close to your fire keep, <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="Doggy in front of fireplace. From home association with share permissions. " class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/750709/large/DogbyFireplacereuseIHAbb-Arbanasi-Elena_8.jpeg?1577240705" title="Doggy in front of fireplace. From home association with share permissions. "> <figcaption>Cozy by fire!</figcaption> </figure> </div> But you'll hear ship whistle and lighthouse bell And tides beat through your sleep. Oh! you won't know why and you can't say how Such a change upon you came, But once you have slept on an island, You’ll never be quite the same.  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="Cats sleeping on Cat Island." class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/932465/large/CatsSleepingonCatIslandJapanreuseFlickrCClicense43286065222_65c3880f8f_b.jpg?1617157191" title="Cats sleeping on Cat Island."> <figcaption>Pooties sleeping — on Cat Island, of course!</figcaption> </figure> </div> [Rachel Lyman Field (September 19, 1894 – March 15, 1942) was an American novelist, poet, and author of children's fiction. She is best known for her Newbery Medal–winning novel for young adults, Hitty, Her First Hundred Years, published in 1929…. Field was also a successful author of adult fiction, writing the bestsellers Time Out of Mind (1935), All This and Heaven Too (1938), and And Now Tomorrow (1942). Much more at the <a href="https://www.poemhunter.com/rachel-lyman-field/biography/" target="_blank" title="">link</a>! Her books are available at <a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/if-once-you-slept-on-an-island_rachel-field/563386/item/11886392/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvqfdnLbZ7wIVAZ7tCh1TYAEyEAQYAiABEgJB2fD_BwE#idiq=11886392&edition=6436000" target="_blank" title="">Thriftbooks</a>.] rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) aminals Animals Birdeez Bunnies catisland Cats ChincoteagueIsland Critters Dogs ElenaCarlena ginger GingerCarlena holidaze IfOnceYouHaveSleptOnAnIsland Jan4Insight LuvLee MountEverestDotCom NationalHolidays NationalVirtualVacationDay OpenThread Oreo OreoCarlena Peeps PleaseFeelFreetoAddToTheseTags Poems Poetery Poetry pomes ponies Pooties potery PWB PWBPeeps rabbitisland rabbits RachelLymanField Recommended seagulls swampyankee triciawyse whimsical Whimsy Woozles _2023692 Wed, 31 Mar 2021 02:29:39 +0000 This Week in the War on Women, 3/21-27/2021: Toxic Elite White Male Culture and Hazing Edition https://www.dailykos.com/story/2021/3/27/2023112/-This-Week-in-the-War-on-Women-3-21-27-2021-Toxic-Elite-White-Male-Culture-and-Hazing-Edition <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Adam Oakes, 19, passed away from frat hazing on February 27, 2021. Photo with little brother, provided by family with sharing permission." src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/931605/large/AdamOakesHazingreuseCreativeCommonsOakesfamilyadam-oakes.jpg?1616871940" title="Adam Oakes, 19, passed away from frat hazing on February 27, 2021. Photo with little brother, provided by family with sharing permission."> <figcaption>Adam Oakes with his little brother. Photos shared by bereaved family.</figcaption> </figure> </div> <a href="https://richmond.com/news/local/education/students-family-gather-at-vcu-to-remember-adam-oakes-who-died-after-fraternity-party/article_41e3a44c-c8ba-5357-9dd4-130861c5694b.html" target="_blank" title="">Adam Oakes, 19, died on February 27, 2021</a>. <a href="https://www.13abc.com/2021/03/24/parents-of-bgsu-hazing-victim-speak-out-for-the-first-time/#:~:text=Stone%20Foltz%20died%20Sunday%2C%20March,could%20leave%20the%20frat%20house." target="_blank">Stone Foltz, 20, died on March 7, 2021</a>. Neither had Covid. Both were white males. Both are in the news this week because their parents are pushing for accountability. What happened to them? Fraternity hazing. Yes, even in the midst of a pandemic, frat parties are still a thing. Both young men, along with many other potential new members, were pushed to drink way too much alcohol. <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/education/2021/03/27/fraternity-deaths-hazing-vcu-bowling-green-state-pledging/6956731002/" target="_blank" title="">Their parents and some schools and organizations want the individuals involved charged with murder and other serious crimes</a>. Surely this time things will change?  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Stone Foltz, 20, died from frat hazing March 7, 2021. Photos provided by bereaved family with sharing permission, link to GoFundMe page below. " src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/931606/large/StoneFoltzHazingreuseFoltzFamilyimage.jpg?1616872170" title="Stone Foltz, 20, died from frat hazing March 7, 2021. Photos provided by bereaved family with sharing permission, link to GoFundMe page below. "> <figcaption>Stone Foltz. Photos shared by bereaved family.</figcaption> </figure> </div> No, things will not change. Tragically, I don’t believe that hazing deaths will decrease until our culture changes. I remember fraternity hazing deaths in the news back when I was a child — I’m now 60. I asked Mom, she remembers fraternity hazing deaths in the news back when she was a child — she’s now almost 90. So I looked into the history of hazing more fully. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_hazing_deaths_in_the_United_States" target="_blank" title="">Hazing deaths in the United States go back to at least 1737</a>. [Trigger warning: The link contains details of harassment, bullying, and worse.] The vast majority have been young men joining fraternities, or new students joining particular classes, but there have also been incidents in the military, sports teams, and the first one was in the Masons. Deaths have been caused by a variety of reasons, not only too much drinking. <a href="https://www.bustle.com/articles/16574-10-sorority-rush-hazing-horror-stories-that-will-make-you-think-twice-about-pledging" target="_blank" title="">There have also been a few women who died from hazing at sororities</a>; although the numbers are much, much lower than the numbers of men who have died, the humiliations sometimes might even seem worse. [Trigger warning: The link contains details of harassment, bullying, and worse.] Whenever these deaths happen, everyone involved makes the appropriate noises and takes some appropriate, if inadequate, action. Certainly, our “boys will be boys” culture has left a lot of young bullies without accountability for very serious crimes, and that needs to change. We see that repeatedly when young women are attacked by young men, don’t we? And it looks like the girls want to imitate the toxic male culture in their own in-groups. Certainly individual and organizationally-backed bullies need to be charged with the serious crimes they have committed and face the consequences. It should be noted, though, that many a fraternity and sorority have been banned from many campuses and delisted from national organizations. They just set up informal frats off campus, and the illegal (most being below legal drinking age) partying and hazing continue. And imprisoning the worst of the bullies leaves about 74 million more for the next time. Whilst individual accountability and criminal charges would be great, overall nothing will change unless we change the culture. What causes this intractable problem, in my opinion, is this persistent notion that young people somehow do not deserve success unless they prove themselves to be “elite”. They need to prove their worthiness, their toughness, to be “acceptable”. Despite our nods to a “classless society” without royalty, we persist in breaking down to in-groups and out-groups, those “with class” and those “without,” to congregate in close-knit groups who can count on each other (as long as nothing goes too horribly wrong) and who not only keep those who are "out" at arm’s length, but actively look down upon and sneer at the “non-elite”. Membership with in-groups can even be the key to getting good jobs, business loans, and other assets that make a “good life” in America. So how do we combat this toxic elitism? It’s not only targeting women and minorities and those who are “different”. It’s even killing young white men. I don’t ultimately have any answers other than to combat classism wherever we find it. But maybe it will help a little if more people know, hazing deaths didn’t happen for the first time earlier this year, they happened well before you ever first heard about them. They are not a symptom of the pandemic, nor particular colleges nor organizations, nor male-only, nor Democrat versus Republican, nor the breakdown of the American family, nor the decline of Christianity, nor a harbinger of the End Times. They are a symptom of something much deeper, more widespread, more historic, more systemic, and much harder to root out. Also, for all our sakes, teach your kids to resist peer pressure and to be responsible bystanders. This is an age-old problem, so we're probably not going to solve it this week. Nevertheless, please discuss in the Comments.  rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) AdamOakes AlcoholPoisoningIsNotFunny AMightyGirl ArleneFoster AsianAmericans BethMoore beverlycleary Colleges DemocraticRepublicofCongo DianaTrujillo ElenaCarlena Elitism Ethiopia Feminism Fraternities GenerationEqualityForum GoodNews hazing InitiationRites intoxication JustWriteStop kimphuc KrysiaPaszko Minnesota Misogyny Modelmugging.org ModernDiplomacy NASA NCAA newsocialcompact NewZealand NorthernIreland NoVA Pakistan PBS Peace PictureAScientist PleaseFeelFreetoAddToTheseTags Pregnancy Rape Religion Rescued SBC SelfDefense SexWorkers Sororities Sports STEM StoneFoltz ThisWeekintheWaronWomen TitleIX TrevorNoah Turkey twitwow UnitedNations Universities UNWomen Violence ViolenceAgainstWomen WomenInIslam WomenInScience womensbasketball WoW wow1 XiaoZhenXie _2023112 Sun, 28 Mar 2021 00:00:18 +0000 PWB Peeps: Toosdai Evening: Srs Not-Srs Poetry for Today, March 23, Illustrated! https://www.dailykos.com/story/2021/3/23/2022471/-PWB-Peeps-Toosdai-Evening-Srs-Not-Srs-Poetry-for-Today-March-23-Illustrated Welcome back to the odd and whimsical poetery of the Peeps related to holidaze! Let’s investigate <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/" target="_blank">what today is</a>, because we need all the holidaze we can celebrate, right? Furtunately, our country is back to more or less normality, about which all critters are very happy! Still, every day seems to be many holidays. Which is good, because we all have our favorites. So I will pick out one or two, and you can click the link above if you’re curious about the rest. This is an Open Thread, so please feel free to add your favorite pomes and photoes and holidaze for today in the Comments! <h3 class="AlignCenter">Today is Cuddly Kitten Day!</h3> <blockquote> <h4><a href="https://www.checkiday.com/b14b5ea116960685bca7767cd36458c4/cuddly-kitten-day" target="_blank">How to Observe Cuddly Kitten Day</a></h4> If you have a kitten, celebrate the day by cuddling them! You could also celebrate your cuddly kitty by giving them some treats or some toys! Maybe you once had a kitten but they have now grown up into an adult cat. Perhaps you have some photos from when they were young that you could look at. If you don't have a kitten, you could celebrate the kitten of a friend or family member. </blockquote> I always adopt older pooties that need good homes, so have no personal kitten photoes to share. But I hope y’all will share your kitten photoes in the Comments! I found a short pome for this evening, but the poet is very interesting! <h4 class="AlignCenter"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/804230826/the-moon-winks-to-the-kittens-louis-wain?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_e-art_and_collectibles-prints-giclee&utm_custom1=_k_EAIaIQobChMIybvL4-jH7wIVAo_ICh36WQQ6EAQYAyABEgLRsvD_BwE_k_&utm_content=go_304499915_22746212915_78727448795_pla-106555092035_c__804230826_220424540&utm_custom2=304499915&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIybvL4-jH7wIVAo_ICh36WQQ6EAQYAyABEgLRsvD_BwE" target="_blank" title="">The Wink</a></h4> by Jessie Pope Six black pussy cats, all in a row,  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="Six black kittens sitting in a row - so cute!" class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/930186/large/KittensBlackreusePinterestb6419e777cf5d7648d5bf72021961248.jpg?1616551886" title="Six black kittens sitting in a row - so cute!"> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> </div> Holding paws tightly, dance in the snow. <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="Black cats in Snow. Creative Commons noncommercial license." class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/930193/large/CatsBlackinSnowreuseCatFaeriesblackcats-in-snow-500.jpg?1616552221" title="Black cats in Snow. Creative Commons noncommercial license."> <figcaption>Not quite dancing!</figcaption> </figure> </div> When the moon rises, what do you think?  She gives those pussies a saucy old wink.  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="Black cat silhouetted against big full moon" class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/930194/large/CatSilhouetteMoonreusePixabayfull-moon-5568320__340.jpg?1616552571" title="Black cat silhouetted against big full moon"> <figcaption>Sometimes the moon is saucy, sometimes the pootie is saucie. ;-) </figcaption> </figure> </div> [Jessie Pope (1868-1941) <a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/jessie-pope" target="_blank" title="">was a prolific writer</a> of occasional poetry and prose, and her work was published widely.... In particular, she wrote humorous verses for Punch magazine, contributing over 170 between 1902 and 1922…. In her lifetime, Pope was known as the “foremost woman humorist” in England. Pope was also instrumental in editing, and bowdlerizing, Robert Noonan’s novel of class struggle and strife, The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists (1914). Her posthumous reputation, however, rests on the patriotic verses she wrote during World War I…. Glorifying combat, exhorting men to fight, and generally romanticizing war, Pope’s poems have been vilified as jingoistic doggerel…. Her writing for children includes the illustrated Animal Fun and Frolic (1930). See also <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-32298697" target="_blank" title="">The WW1 Poet Kids are Taught to Dislike</a>. If you can!]  rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) aminals Animals blackcats Cats Community Critters cuddlykittenday Dogs ElenaCarlena ginger GingerCarlena holidaze Jan4Insight JessiePope Kittens LuvLee NationalHolidays OpenThread Oreo OreoCarlena Peeps PleaseFeelFreetoAddToTheseTags Poems Poetery Poetry pomes Pooties potery PWB PWBPeeps Recommended swampyankee TheWink triciawyse whimsical Whimsy Woozles _2022471 Wed, 24 Mar 2021 02:41:54 +0000 PWB Peeps: Toosdai Evening: Srs Not-Srs Poetry for Today, March 16, Illustrated! https://www.dailykos.com/story/2021/3/16/2021400/-PWB-Peeps-Toosdai-Evening-Srs-Not-Srs-Poetry-for-Today-March-16-Illustrated Welcome back to the odd and whimsical poetery of the Peeps related to holidaze! Let’s investigate <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/" target="_blank" title="">what today is</a>, because we need all the holidaze we can celebrate, right? Furtunately, our country is back to more or less normality, about which all critters are very happy! Still, every day seems to be many holidays. Which is good, because we all have our favorites. So I will pick out one or two, and you can click the link above if you’re curious about the rest. This is an Open Thread, so please feel free to add your favorite pomes and photoes and holidaze for today in the Comments! <h3 class="AlignCenter">Today is <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/6de0250b4a24131605644fe486b2483f/national-panda-day" target="_blank" title="">National Panda Day</a>!</h3> Pandas are quite rare and habitat loss is an issue (see details at the linky above), so be sure to celebrate your pandas today! <blockquote> <h4>How to Observe National Panda Day</h4> Celebrate pandas today! Here are some ideas to get you started: <ul> <li>See giant pandas—including <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_giant_pandas" target="_blank">famous ones</a>—<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_pandas_around_the_world" target="_blank">at zoos</a> or in the wild <a href="https://www.explorationscompany.com/about/media-centre/blog/asia/where-are-the-best-3-places-in-china-to-see-giant-panda-in-the-wild" target="_blank">at a reserve</a>.</li> <li>Support an organization such as the <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/" target="_blank">World Wide Fund for Nature</a> or <a href="https://www.pandasinternational.org/" target="_blank" title="">Pandas International</a>.</li> <li>Watch a <a href="https://www.chinahighlights.com/giant-panda/media.htm" target="_blank" title="">movie or documentary about giant pandas, or read something about them</a>.</li> <li>Check to see if there are any National Panda Day events you could attend or celebrations you could participate in. For example, <a href="https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2017/03/its-national-panda-day/" target="_blank" title="">Disney Parks has marked the day during past observances</a>.</li> </ul> </blockquote> Disney released a panda film, put out this “sneak peek” on National Panda Day 2017: “Born in China” from Disneynature: Cute! <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content">x</div> <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content"><a class="new_iframe_placeholder" href="#">x</a></div> <a class="iframe_placeholder youtube dk-embed" href="//youtube.com/watch?v=ypnuLWueJ64" title="" data-frameborder="0" data-height="281" data-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ypnuLWueJ64?start=1" data-width="500">YouTube Video</a></div> </div> <h4 class="AlignCenter"></h4> <h4 class="AlignCenter">Grizzly and Kodiak are Wild Women</h4> by Caren Krutsinger Asian Black, Kodiak, Polar Bear, Grizzly and cuddly Teddy bear too…. Which one would you want to find wearing your pajamas when you have the flu? The purple and pink striped ones would look the prettiest on the Asian Black, But she is particular, and prefers a polka dotted nightie with a sheer and sexy back. Let’s say you see a bear creep into your bedroom in the middle of the day, You see her putting on your pantyhose, and she rips them every which way. I choose Giant Panda, hoping she will want to wear my flowered blouse. I would share all my every day clothes with her, for I am not a louse. -<a href="https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/grizzly_and_kodiak_are_wild_women_1109373" target="_blank" title="">snip</a>- (please read the rest at the linky!) Better make up your mind, and do it much quicker than you have done in the immediate past. I just saw a trail of bear prints head toward your house, and they were moving rather fast. [Caren Krutsinger is on several poetry sites but without a bio there, “a cartoonist, painter, poet, and elementary school counselor who loves playing and lives her joy” (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/carenkrutsinger/" target="_blank" title="">link</a> to Facebook). She is the author of two books on Amazon, please check them out <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3ACaren+Lynne+Krutsinger&s=relevancerank&text=Caren+Lynne+Krutsinger&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1" target="_blank" title="">here</a>. If you like them, presumably you can contact her on FB or Twitter for lower prices!] rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) aminals Animals Bears CarenKrutsinger Cats Community Critters Dogs ElenaCarlena GiantPandaBearDay GiantPandas ginger GingerCarlena GrizzlyAndKodiakAreWildWomen holidaze Jan4Insight LuvLee NationalHolidays NationalPandaDay OpenThread Oreo OreoCarlena PandaBears Pandas Peeps PleaseFeelFreetoAddToTheseTags Poems Poetery Poetry pomes Pooties potery PWB PWBPeeps Recommended swampyankee triciawyse whimsical Whimsy Woozles _2021400 Wed, 17 Mar 2021 02:08:16 +0000 This Week in the War on Women: 3/7/21-3/13/21: St. Patrick's Day Edition. Update: Breonna Anniv. https://www.dailykos.com/story/2021/3/13/2020937/-This-Week-in-the-War-on-Women-3-7-21-3-13-21-St-Patrick-s-Day-Edition So St. Patrick’s Day is coming (March 17, next Wednesday); and if you’re curious about its origins, as I was, you can find out <a href="https://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day#:~:text=St.%20Patrick%27s%20Day%20observes%20of,a%20whole%20lot%20of%20green." target="_blank">here</a> that it has marked the death of St. Patrick (in 461 AD), patron saint of Ireland, for over 1000 years. Originally a religious holiday, this has mostly evolved to celebrating Irish culture and green (St. Pat’s color was blue, but there was the shamrock legend and Ireland referred to as the Emerald Island). Although occurring during Lent, the Lenten restrictions on meat are waived for the day, and people eat accordingly. America, with our usual hodgepodge and confusion, began holding Irish culture parades with the playing of bagpipes (which are of course Scottish). My recipes for a corned beef dinner are <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/3/21/1929860/-What-s-For-Dinner-v14-37-St-Patrick-s-Day-Celebration-for-Two" target="_blank">here</a>. What does this have to do with the WOW, you ask? Welp, <a href="https://websterapartments.org/saint-patricks-day-a-day-for-women/" target="_blank">legend has it</a> that St. Patrick had a small role in women’s rights. St. Brigid of Kildare complained to St. Patrick that men took too long to propose. And that was the start of the leap year tradition that women can propose to men. As for those 77 women mentioned at the previous linky, there were actually more than 300 of them and you might enjoy their stories <a href="https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/gunrunners-front-line-fighters-women-1916-easter-rising" target="_blank">here</a>, but the anniversary of the Irish uprising is actually in late April. <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="St. Brigid of Ireland holding her lamp; detail of stained glass in Irish church." src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/925050/large/St.BrigidStainedGlassWindowreuseIconographieChretienneCong_St._Mary_of_the_Rosary_Window_St._Brigid_Detail_St._Brigid_holding_her_Lamp_2019_09_04.jpg?1615222723" title="St. Brigid of Ireland holding her lamp; detail of stained glass in Irish church."> <figcaption>St. Brigid; more of her story can be found <a href="http://har22201.blogspot.com/2012/02/sainte-brigitte-dirlande.html">here</a>.</figcaption> </figure> </div> In Depth: <a href="https://globaldialogue.isa-sociology.org/the-irish-womens-movement/" target="_blank">How the Irish women’s movement has done and is doing</a>, fighting what had been a patriarchal and Catholic society. Hint: Much like us, some steps forward, some back, still fighting, engaging younger women.  rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) Abortion AndrewCuomo BillofRights BLM BreonnaTaylor Bullying CaptainCuomo Cats ComfortWomen Dogs Feminism FreeIncarceratedWomen GreatBritain InternationalWomensDay Ireland Jeopardy KathyHochul KatieCouric Kentucky KentuckyConstitution LatinAmerica MeghanMarkle Mexico NewYork pancreaticcancer PleaseFeelFreetoAddToTheseTags Pooties Racism Religion Resistance SaintPatrick SarahEverard SexualHarassment StBrigid stpatricksday ThisWeekintheWaronWomen toxicworkplace twitwow UnitedKingdom Violence ViolenceAgainstWomen WarOnWomen Woozles WoW wow1 _2020937 Sun, 14 Mar 2021 01:00:05 +0000 PWB Peeps: Toosdai Evening: Srs Not-Srs Poetry for Today, March 9, Illustrated! https://www.dailykos.com/story/2021/3/9/2020314/-PWB-Peeps-Toosdai-Evening-Srs-Not-Srs-Poetry-for-Today-March-9-Illustrated Welcome back to the odd and whimsical poetery of the Peeps related to holidaze! Let’s investigate <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/" target="_blank">what today is</a>, because we need all the holidaze we can celebrate, right? Furtunately, our country is back to more or less normality, about which all critters are very happy! Still, every day seems to be many holidays. Which is good, because we all have our favorites. So I will pick out one or two, and you can click the link above if you’re curious about the rest. This is an Open Thread, so please feel free to add your favorite pomes and photoes and holidaze for today in the Comments! <h3 class="AlignCenter">Today is <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/aa6f4e44ce8b1979ff0b744ab50e0ff2/panic-day" target="_blank">Panic Day</a></h3> <blockquote> The creators of this holiday describe the day by saying that would-be celebrants should "Run around all day in a panic, telling others you can't handle it anymore," and add that the holiday is "co-sponsored by the Sky is Falling Committee." They give little other information on the holiday beyond a few more suggestions on how to celebrate. It seems the holiday is meant to be tongue-in-cheek, but at the same time, if people have real panic inside of them, it is the perfect day to let it be known. </blockquote> After the stresses of the last year, push and pull on the vaccines (<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2021/02/03/covid-vaccine-some-people-cutting-bribing-before-their-turn/4308915001/" target="_blank">Some people get Covid vaccines before their turn</a> vs. <a href="https://www.wave3.com/2021/02/02/survey-finds-percent-people-will-refuse-or-delay-covid-vaccine/" target="_blank">About half of Americans do not want the vaccine right now</a>), and our <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/third-stimulus-check-when-get-1400-2021-03-09/" target="_blank">stimulus checks still in limbo</a>, I think it’s past time for us all to celebrate and run around and yell! Does it feel like a great weight has lifted from our shoulders since Inauguration Day, yet not enough is getting done? Then run around and yell! It won’t solve anything except you’ll feel a little better.  I looked for aminals running around in a panic, but to me they seemed more mean than funny. This one is kind of sweet:  <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content">x</div> <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content"><a class="new_iframe_placeholder" href="#">x</a></div> <a class="iframe_placeholder youtube dk-embed" href="//youtube.com/watch?v=H2-m2-GXBMY" data-frameborder="0" data-height="281" data-src="//www.youtube.com/embed/H2-m2-GXBMY" data-width="500">YouTube Video</a></div> </div> <h4 class="AlignCenter">Breathe</h4> by Tiffany L. Ganci [full pome at the <a href="https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/breathe-7" target="_blank">linky</a>] Panic, worry, darkness closing in around me. These are some of the words I could use to describe my anxiety, but nothing I can say could speak of its entirety, as I cry internally thinking I've lost my sanity. Doctors, counselors, saying there's something wrong with me. My parents telling me to calm down and stop being so crazy. But how can I calm down when the world around me is spinning out of control and I can barely see? Breathe. You will get through this. You will get through the sleepless nights, all the internal fights, and the days that seem right when the world hits you with all its might. Breathe. You will get through this…. [I could not find biographical information for Tiffany L. Ganci. Maybe she’ll see this and make contact! This pome has been used in online course work. We would love to know more about her!]  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="catbethiscalm.jpg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/878831/large/catbethiscalm.jpg?1604552448" title="catbethiscalm.jpg"> <figcaption>See? It gets better when you breathe. </figcaption> </figure> </div> rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) aminals Animals breathe Cats Community Critters Dogs ElenaCarlena ginger GingerCarlena holidaze Jan4Insight LuvLee NationalHolidays OpenThread Oreo OreoCarlena panicday Peeps PleaseFeelFreetoAddToTheseTags Poems Poetery Poetry pomes Pooties potery PWB PWBPeeps Recommended swampyankee theskyisfalling TiffanyLGanci triciawyse whimsical Whimsy Woozles _2020314 Wed, 10 Mar 2021 03:29:17 +0000 Mental Health: It's Random https://www.dailykos.com/story/2021/3/8/2020121/-Mental-Health-It-s-Random I watched the Prince Harry-Meghan interview. I believe them and I feel compassion for their difficulties. If it were up to me and I were a British taxpayer, I would be using this occasion to demand the end to the royals. I even had a diary drafted on that subject. If royals are just as ignorant and racist and classless as the rest of us, what’s the point?  But after reading some of the pushback today of the “she can’t be depressed, she’s a princess” variety, I would like to address a more important subject. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, FWIW. A graduate degree is required to do much with that, so I don’t usually wave that credential about the site, but I think it’s appropriate here. I didn’t study further because I’d entered the field wanting to find out why people, including myself, act “so weird”. The answer was, and continues to be, no one knows for sure.  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Puzzled kitten surrounded by blue" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/925250/large/KittenBluereusePixabaycat-2529377__340.jpg?1615260849" title="Puzzled kitten surrounded by blue"> <figcaption>“Why am I blue?” No one knows!</figcaption> </figure> </div> Over the decades since I completed my degree, there has been an ongoing debate about mental and emotional disorders in general, whether they are due to nature versus nurture. But I think it is pretty clear that it’s both. There are anxiety- and depression-producing circumstances, such as <a href="https://theconversation.com/bad-economic-news-increases-suicide-rates-new-research-117228" target="_blank">financial anxiety</a> and <a href="https://time.com/5550803/depression-suicide-rates-youth/" target="_blank">cyberbullying</a> and feeling trapped in circumstances outside your <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3345936/" target="_blank">control</a>. Yet many people rise above these. There are also life experiences that are wonderful for most people, yet some will have anxiety and/or depression anyway, most famously <a href="https://womensmentalhealth.org/posts/is-it-postpartum-depression-or-postpartum-anxiety-whats-the-difference/" target="_blank">post partum</a>.  So what is the difference? Almost assuredly, brain chemistry (hormones too, but again, some handle changed hormones with ease whilst others find them extremely difficult). Sure, as a society we could help by providing the best circumstances for each other and supporting each other through life’s ups and downs. I fervently wish we would, but that is clearly a work very much still in progress. Sure, as individuals we can seek out self-help groups and cognitive-behavioral therapists and work on our coping skills. It all helps. For some, such changes will be enough, and they are certainly worth exploring.  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Fancy cat bed available at Chewy.com, photo with reuse permissions. " src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/925252/large/CatinRefinedBedreuseChewyforsale.jpg?1615261841" title="Fancy cat bed available at Chewy.com, photo with reuse permissions. "> <figcaption>We all deserve someplace to live that is comfortable and safe!</figcaption> </figure> </div> But sometimes, it just takes medication. The <a href="https://evidence.nihr.ac.uk/alert/the-most-effective-antidepressants-for-adults-revealed-in-major-review/" target="_blank">most effective medication, the SSRIs</a>, are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. You might recognize the brand names Lexapro and Paxil, as examples. <a href="https://www.hormone.org/your-health-and-hormones/glands-and-hormones-a-to-z/hormones/serotonin#:~:text=Serotonin%20is%20the%20key%20hormone,sleeping%2C%20eating%2C%20and%20digestion." target="_blank">Serotonin</a> is a brain chemical “that stabilizes our mood, feelings of well-being, and happiness”. We all have some. Other brain chemicals may have multiple roles, so it’s best when a medication targets serotonin selectively. The difference between up and down moods may be how much serotonin is activated in the brain. So when we feel good, our brain cells shoot out serotonin to communicate with each other. The serotonin is then taken back up by the cells (reuptake) to gradually wind down the good feeling, and prepare for the next feeling in whichever direction. SSRIs inhibit that reuptake so that the good feeling lasts longer. That’s it. It’s a way to compensate for a presumed lack of adequate serotonin without just giving serotonin, the optimal amount of which might be more tricky to determine. If you take an SSRI, the effect is very gradual, but you will probably feel better in a few weeks to months.  So please, enough of claims that “your circumstances aren’t that bad, you can’t possibly be depressed”. Although we all may wish we could be royalty, in the end it’s the luck of the draw in your inherited brain chemistry, not circumstances, that may determine your moods.  If you are feeling suicidal or even less-than-suicidally distressed, there is help. In the US, please call the <a href="https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org" target="_blank">National Suicide Prevention Lifeline</a> at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Outside the US, just Google “suicide prevention” for a phone number near you.  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-md"><img alt="A sad cat in Ulus, Ankara Turkey" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/925253/large/CatSadreuseWikimediaCommonsdownload.jpg?1615262082" title="A sad cat in Ulus, Ankara Turkey"> <figcaption>Sometimes you have a “reason” to feel sad. Sometimes you don’t. You are worthy of being comforted and supported either way. </figcaption> </figure> </div> Editing/Updating to add: From <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2021/03/09/2020121/-Mental-Health:-Its-Random#comment_80463819" target="_blank" title="">Stephen Dreyfus in the Comments</a> (Master’s degree in Psychology):  <blockquote> I highly recommend... Let Them Eat Prozac: The Unhealthy Relationship between the Pharmaceutical Industry and Depression, by David Healy.  Healy points out the brain has hundreds of neurotransmitters and the idea depression is only linked to serotonin is a specious argument.  I was so impressed with this book’s warnings about the dangers of SSRI-Antidepressants, I wrote a book report for my college Psychology students to read , called SSRI’s: Rx for Suicide. </blockquote> IMO, of course depression and anxiety, like all complicated human traits and states, have multiple causes including the involvement of multiple neurotransmitters. But if treatment can be kept relatively simple, side effects can be kept relatively mild. SSRIs have worked well for people I know, with minimal to no side effects, and my link above shows that that result is widespread. At the same time, definitely, SSRIs will not be the solution for everyone. Humans differ from each other physiologically to an amazing degree. The brain is likewise variable. So everyone who has tried therapy and found no solutions, should approach medications with an experimental attitude as well, and readily ask for changes in dosage or med types. It’s a process: Your doc is likely to start with what works for most, and then over time together find what works for you.  [Another example: After surgery they gave me morphine. Strong drugs, right? Nope. It had zero effect on me. You can imagine the twists and turns before I actually had effective pain medication!] rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) Anxiety Cats Depression emotionalhealth Harry Meghan MeghanMarkle MentalHealth OprahInterview Pooties princeharry Recommended SSRIs Suicide _2020121 Tue, 09 Mar 2021 04:02:34 +0000 PWB Peeps: Toosdai Evening: Srs Not-Srs Poetry for Today, March 2, Illustrated! https://www.dailykos.com/story/2021/3/2/2019018/-PWB-Peeps-Toosdai-Evening-Srs-Not-Srs-Poetry-for-Today-March-2-Illustrated <div> Welcome back to the odd and whimsical poetery of the Peeps related to holidaze! Let’s investigate <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/" target="_blank">what today is</a>, because we need all the holidaze we can celebrate, right? Furtunately, our country is back to more or less normality, about which all critters are very happy! Still, every day seems to be many holidays. Which is good, because we all have our favorites. So I will pick out one or two, and you can click the link above if you’re curious about the rest. This is an Open Thread, so please feel free to add your favorite pomes and photoes and holidaze for today in the Comments! Quick TV program note: Tonight at 10 PM Eastern is the first of a short series on ABC, Soul of a Nation. They’ve been advertising it as “by black Americans, for all Americans”. So you may want to have that playing in the background whilst reading here!  <h3 class="AlignCenter">Today is International Rescue Cat Day!</h3> <blockquote> International Rescue Cat Day is the day to bring a new member into your family by adopting at cat! There are so many cats out there just waiting for a home, so make sure to rescue when you decide to adopt a new cat. The first Humane Society was the <a href="https://www.aspca.org/about-us/history-of-the-aspca">American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)</a> founded in 1867, by Henry Bergh. Bergh founded the ASPCA on the clear belief that all animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment and must be protected under the law. Overall, ASPCA plays a major role in the rescue and adoption of animals and working toward better laws toward animal welfare. </blockquote> Click <a href="https://www.holidaysmart.com/holidays/daily/international-rescue-cat-day" target="_blank">this link</a> to find out why aminal rescues/shelters are important and how you can help!  <h4 class="AlignCenter"></h4> <h4 class="AlignCenter">From The Heart of a Homeless Cat</h4> by <a href="https://www.thefoundationforhomelesscats.org/sanctuary-cats/" target="_blank">The Foundation for Homeless Cats</a> Little kittens, senior cats,  Healthy, or with fur in mats,  Once beloved, or lifetime stray, We have all been thrown away.  -snip- Blessed are some with a happy life,  What we all desire with all our might,  Rescued by a human friend,  Who will have and hold us ‘til the end.  Safe, secure, ‘til death us part,  A forever home with a forever heart,  But too many others will never know  What it is like to be loved so.  -snip- Humans flaunt their need for love,  Search everywhere around, above;  Why are they too blind to see that  This is why God created the cat?  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="CatLittleandHumanBigreuseFlickr173165089_75dd2deeaf_b.jpg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/923135/large/CatLittleandHumanBigreuseFlickr173165089_75dd2deeaf_b.jpg?1614740494" title="CatLittleandHumanBigreuseFlickr173165089_75dd2deeaf_b.jpg"> <figcaption>Pootie and hoomins find true love!</figcaption> </figure> </div> [Full poem <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/784681935054314757/" target="_blank">here</a>. Approach with tissues!] [Hopefully someone else here will have better luck finding author info; Pinterest showed the Foundation as the source, but I do not see it on their website. Click the Foundation linky for pootie profiles!] </div> rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) Adopt aminals Animals Cats Community Dogs ElenaCarlena FromTheHeartOfAHomelessCat ginger GingerCarlena Homeless HomelessPet InternationalRescueCatDay Jan4Insight LuvLee NationalHolidays OpenThread Oreo OreoCarlena Peeps Poems Poetery Poetry pomes Pooties potery PWB PWBPeeps Recommended rescuepets swampyankee TheFoundationForHomelessCats triciawyse whimsical Whimsy Woozles _2019018 Wed, 03 Mar 2021 03:05:38 +0000 A Cascade of Unpleasant Events: DHfromKY Needs Our Help: Fundraiser UPDATE: New $500 Match! https://www.dailykos.com/story/2021/2/28/2018537/-A-Cascade-of-Unpleasant-Events-DHfromKY-Needs-Our-Help-Fundraiser-with-MATCHING-Challenge DH is an old friend and fellow Kentuckian who, like many, has found himself in a rough patch because of Covid. He is one of those who has fallen between the cracks, unable to receive any stimulus payments. Currently, they are telling him that he has to prove his identity; when he sent a copy of his ID, they told him that might be sufficient but it might be 2 months before he gets his checks. Guvmint, hmph. Of course, he has been fighting this fight since $Rump and his minions were doing that thing they called governing. DH has been here a while, but isn’t a diary writer; rather, a reader and commenter, mostly participating in community diaries and being helpful, as you can see here, <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/user/DHfromKY/comments/1" target="_blank">www.dailykos.com/</a>…  Now it’s our turn to be a helpful community for DH and his pooties. He has moratoriums on eviction and utility cutoff, but needs to make current and back payments before those moratoria end. No one is giving him certain deadlines, but presumably they will want their money very soon. He is being as frugal as possible, but has basically run out of money. He has two cats that he is considering rehoming in case he becomes homeless, and of course we hate to see anyone and their buddies go through such separations. He does not have pootie photos because he does not have a good camera; but one is black, and you know how difficult they can be to photograph even with a good camera (as above).  So, can you please help DH? We have found from previous fundraisers that most donors do not give much, and that’s fine — as they say, “Many a mickle makes a muckle”. Whatever you can spare will be greatly appreciated. Fortunately, Kentucky is a low-cost state, so $3400 would be enough to pay back and current bills, and provide living expenses until the next stimulus check, assuming that by then he will have his identity verified. He hates to ask for help, but a few of us encouraged him to do so. Thank you all! Please feel free to post fun photos and music in the Comments, to help us keep up the interest. Let’s celebrate and get this done! DH’s email address for <a href="https://www.paypal.com/signin" target="_blank">PayPal</a> is dharden40219@yahoo.com When you “send to a friend,” PayPal takes no fee. Below are a few of DH’s own words. Thanks again!  rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) Cats Community communityfundraiser DHfromKY ElenaCarlena Fundraiser MatchingChallenge Pooties Recommended WithALittleHelpFromOurFriends _2018537 Sun, 28 Feb 2021 20:02:39 +0000 PWB Peeps: Toosdai Evening: Srs Not-Srs Poetry for Today, February 23, Illustrated! https://www.dailykos.com/story/2021/2/23/2017776/-PWB-Peeps-Toosdai-Evening-Srs-Not-Srs-Poetry-for-Today-February-23-Illustrated Tech Note: Lately every time I move my laptop (Windows 8.1, about 7 years old), it freezes and loses its ability to find wi-fi, and I have to reboot, which takes forever. I have tried a couple different antiviral programs, clearing out various files, disk cleanup, taking files off my desktop, getting rid of everything I can find that I don’t need. It’s still acting slow and cranky, although maybe a bit better. Any other suggestions (other than buying new)? Thank you, techie Peeps! Welcome back to the odd and whimsical poetery of the Peeps related to holidaze! Let’s investigate <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/" target="_blank">what today is</a>, because we need all the holidaze we can celebrate, right? Furtunately, our country is back to more or less normality, about which all critters are very happy! Still, every day seems to be many holidays. Which is good, because we all have our favorites. So I will pick out one or two, and you can click the link above if you’re curious about the rest. This is an Open Thread, so please feel free to add your favorite pomes and photoes and holidaze for today in the Comments! <h3 class="AlignCenter">Today is International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day!</h3> <blockquote> <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/aa35d23592494389abd3d8e70b863280/international-dog-biscuit-appreciation-day" target="_blank">Celebrate the day</a> by <a href="https://www.amazon.com/b/?node=2975436011&tag=checkiday08-20" target="_blank">buying</a> or <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=dog+biscuit+recipes" target="_blank">making some dog biscuits</a> for your dog or the dogs of others! If you can't decide which type of biscuits to get, you probably can't go wrong by getting the original bone-shaped biscuit, the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias=pets&field-keywords=milk-bone&tag=checkiday08-20" target="_blank">Milk-Bone</a>! </blockquote> <h4 class="AlignCenter"><a href="https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/133123/peanut-butter-and-pumpkin-dog-treats/" target="_blank">Peanut Butter and Pumpkin Dog Treats To Share</a></h4> (They don’t say so, but they sound good enough for hoomins!) <blockquote> <ul> <li> <div> <div> 1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). </div> </div> </li> <li>2) Whisk together flour, eggs, pumpkin, peanut butter, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl. Add water as needed to help make the dough workable, but the dough should be dry and stiff. Roll the dough into a 1/2-inch-thick roll. Cut into 1/2-inch pieces.</li> <li>3) Bake in preheated oven until hard, about 40 minutes.</li> </ul> </blockquote> On second thought, they have no sugar, so maybe not for hoomins.  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-md"><img alt="funny-pictures-cat-giving-dog-biscuit-animated-gif.gif" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/373341/large/funny-pictures-cat-giving-dog-biscuit-animated-gif.gif?1488583038" title="funny-pictures-cat-giving-dog-biscuit-animated-gif.gif"> <figcaption>If you’re lucky (or the dog is), your pootie will help purrvide for your woozle! (h/t ZenTrainer)</figcaption> </figure> </div> <h4 class="AlignCenter">Poem 055: Biscuit</h4> by Jane Kenyon (not all woozles are so thrilled by this day!) The dog has cleaned his bowl  and his reward is a biscuit,  which I put in his mouth  like a priest offering the host.  I can’t bear that trusting face!  He asks for bread, expects bread, and I in my power  might have given him a stone.  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="PuppiesandDogBiscuitsreusePixnio2017-05-31-10-47-20.jpg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/920723/large/PuppiesandDogBiscuitsreusePixnio2017-05-31-10-47-20.jpg?1614137005" title="PuppiesandDogBiscuitsreusePixnio2017-05-31-10-47-20.jpg"> <figcaption>Not so sure.</figcaption> </figure> </div> [Jane Kenyon was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1947. She is the author of four books of poetry, including From Room to Room (1978) and Constance (1993), as well as a translation of work by the Russian poet Anna Akhmatova. Kenyon was honored with the PEN/Voelcker Award for Poetry in 1994, and was Poet Laureate of New Hampshire when she died in 1995. Books, reviews, and purchasing information can be found <a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/authorpage/jane-kenyon.html" target="_blank">here</a>.] rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) aminals Animals biscuit Cats Community Dogs DogTreats ElenaCarlena ginger GingerCarlena holidaze InternationalDogBiscuitAppreciationDay Jan4Insight JaneKenyon LuvLee nationaldogbiscuitday NationalHolidays NewHampshire OpenThread Peeps PleaseFeelFreetoAddToTheseTags Poems Poetery PoetLaureate Poetry pomes Pooties potery PWB PWBPeeps Recommended swampyankee triciawyse whimsical Whimsy Woozles _2017776 Wed, 24 Feb 2021 03:34:44 +0000 PWB Peeps: Toosdai Evening: Srs Not-Srs Poetry for Today, February 16, Illustrated! https://www.dailykos.com/story/2021/2/16/2016506/-PWB-Peeps-Toosdai-Evening-Srs-Not-Srs-Poetry-for-Today-February-16-Illustrated Welcome back to the odd and whimsical poetery of the Peeps related to holidaze! Let’s investigate <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/" target="_blank" title="">what today is</a>, because we need all the holidaze we can celebrate, right? Even immediately after V Day followed by P Day. Furtunately, our country is back to more or less normality, about which all critters are very happy! Still, every day seems to be many holidays. Which is good, because we all have our favorites. So I will pick out one or two, and you can click the link above if you’re curious about the rest. This is an Open Thread, so please feel free to add your favorite pomes and photoes and holidaze for today in the Comments! <h3 class="AlignCenter">Today is National Innovation Day</h3> <blockquote> <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/095981744bdd073b9249c662d008f1c5/national-innovation-day" target="_blank">National Innovation Day</a> exists "to encourage young people to be creative and innovative." While the day focuses on those in their formative years, innovation need not stop with maturity, and those who are older may both encourage the young and dabble in their own innovations today. Innovation deals with making changes to and introducing new ideas to things that already exist. It is a way of looking at what is, and imagining a new and better way of doing it. There are many young people who have been innovative in the past and have given us things we use today. In 1873, Chester Greenwood, a teenager from Farmington, Massachusetts, was sick of having his ears freeze while he was ice skating. He made a wire frame and asked his grandma to sew animal skins to it. His creation was the <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/bad8ac33563a1ec6be496b824155d54f/earmuff-day">earmuff</a>.  </blockquote> Hmph. Seems to me it was their creation. Grandma does all the work and Chester gets all the credit! Typical. Grumph.  Anyway, this sounds like it could be a fun day for all ages! When things get back to normal, you might want to celebrate by giving your boss innovative reasons why you should have another day off right after Presidents’ Day! :-D  <h4 class="AlignCenter"><a href="https://hellopoetry.com/words/innovation/" target="_blank" title="">A Tale From The Deep Dark Web</a></h4> by Mydriasis Aletheia (Sometimes one can get a bit TOO innovative! Thought y’all would find this fascinating though. There are also other “innovation” pomes at the linky!) <div style="text-align:left">For a time I kept an eye out for the more obscure and exotic substances, tracking research chemical vendors who had the most up-to-date wares, drugs that were relatively unknown, drugs so new they weren't illegal yet. You couldn't imagine the range of products. Stimulants, downers, 'noids, 'roids, *** drugs, study drugs, etc. Not as many hallucinogens in these parts, Sadly that's a different art. There was your standard battery of illegal narcotics, ******* knockoffs of more popular drugs, Drugs designed to evade tests but retain the effects. Then there was the more experimental stuff. Suffice to say this part of the internet is a strange and lawless world. Not like the wild west, more like the backstreets of Seoul. I spent many a night trawling through the listings in search of the most recent pharmaceutical innovation, I sought to keep up with the current affairs of this rapidly evolving world. A couple of years ago a certain vendor's listing flagged my attention and, on an intuition, I acquired a mysterious assortment of synthetic cannabinoids for far too little. Thus, I found myself with several improperly labelled compounds. It took me many months to even partially identify them and the vendor went dark before the results came in. However, that intuition was correct: One compound was entirely novel. No mention of it online. No IUPAC name. No history of human use.  No prior trace of its existence. this particular arrangement of molecules was new, it had never been seen on the face of this planet and it has just entered the wild human populace. Imagine that, something new. You can't know anything exactly, can you? From its structural name I guessed it had been designed to circumvent whichever analogue act while hopefully retaining enough activity to lend itself to abuse. Today's synth'noids were part of a far more dangerous generation, And likely taking part in an unregulated human trial. It was made possible by the deep dark web, And even darker forces of prohibition. To identify them I had submitted anonymous samples to a laboratory and asked they inform the correct authority. I retained a tiny sample of the identified chemicals for my own experimentation, and destroyed the remainder. A matter of safety. Many a psychonaut dreams of being the first to experience unknown effects from a novel chemical like Hoffman or Shulgin before them. It is a high honor, to explore a configuration of consciousness previously unknown to the human psyche. When I try a novel compound it will be on my own terms and the endeavor will be a worthy one.</div> <div style="text-align:left"></div> <div style="text-align:left">A story from the depths of the darknet.</div> <div style="text-align:left"></div> <div style="text-align:left">[Mydriasis Aletheia is a screen name for which I could find no other information. <a href="https://hellopoetry.com/Mydriasis/" target="_blank" title="">Per the author</a>, “I dissolve here having known and loved existence in the world.”]</div> <div style="text-align:left"> <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="CatTrippyandHumanreusePixabaywoman-5458926__340.jpg" class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/918199/large/CatTrippyandHumanreusePixabaywoman-5458926__340.jpg?1613530815" title="CatTrippyandHumanreusePixabaywoman-5458926__340.jpg"> <figcaption>Innovate safely, OK?</figcaption> </figure> </div> </div> rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) ATaleFromTheDeepDarkWeb Darkweb MydriasisAletheia NationalInnovationDay PWBPeeps Recommended _2016506 Wed, 17 Feb 2021 03:15:57 +0000 PWB Peeps: Toosdai Evening: The Doctor is Coming! The Doctor is Coming! With a Poll! https://www.dailykos.com/story/2021/2/9/2015045/-PWB-Peeps-Toosdai-Evening-The-Doctor-is-Coming-The-Doctor-is-Coming-With-a-Poll Welp, Peeps, Mom’s doctor has an NP that makes house calls so that elderly patients don’t have to go out for a visit. To Mom’s mind, NP, PA and doctor are all the same thing. And we can’t “entertain” a doctor visit without a thorough house cleaning first! Mom has an appointment tomorrow morning. And 85+-year-old women don’t clean. And the house must be cleaned very shortly before the doctor’s arrival “so that we don’t mess it up again before he gets here”. So yours truly has been pressed into service. Sigh!  So this will be short. Please consider this an Open Thread. I’ll stay for a while as my back needs a break. But then I need to go sweep the carpets and take some boxes to the garage (wouldn’t you know our Amazon orders just arrived?)!  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="CatCleaningServicereuseBiancasFacebook65010207_317168615825490_4550200782741307392_o.jpg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/915974/large/CatCleaningServicereuseBiancasFacebook65010207_317168615825490_4550200782741307392_o.jpg?1612927168" title="CatCleaningServicereuseBiancasFacebook65010207_317168615825490_4550200782741307392_o.jpg"> <figcaption>Something to consider for <a href="https://www.facebook.com/biancascatcleaningservices/">next time</a> — although this late in the evening may be a problem!</figcaption> </figure> </div> <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="IMG_20180403_134148.jpg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/530762/large/IMG_20180403_134148.jpg?1523496230" title="IMG_20180403_134148.jpg"> <figcaption>Ginger used to help smooth the sheets — now I’m on my own!</figcaption> </figure> </div> How are Peeps and family doing? rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) Cats Cleaning Doctors doctorvisits ElenaCarlena GingerCarlena Peeps Poll Pooties PWB PWBPeeps Recommended _2015045 Wed, 10 Feb 2021 03:21:20 +0000 This Week in the War on Women 1/31/21-2/6/21: Lame Excuses Exhaustion: Updated https://www.dailykos.com/story/2021/2/6/2014452/-This-Week-in-the-War-on-Women-1-31-21-2-6-21-Lame-Excuses-Exhaustion Trigger warning: Skip this intro and scroll down to “in other news” if you don’t want to read about sexual assault and rich famous white male privilege.  I made the mistake of listening to Bill Maher last night. He has had a sad devolution from politically incorrect to always incorrect. Last night he focused on the story of <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/ct-ent-armie-hammer-sex-scandal-20210206-trp3swtpdjex5l5xeok5xcp7zq-story.html" target="_blank">Armie Hammer</a>. In short, Hammer has been accused of acting like a cannibal. I won’t go into details of his alleged behavior here. But the link irritates me with Sentence One:  <blockquote> Armie Hammer -- the genetically blessed movie star of <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/sc-mov-call-me-by-your-name-review-1212-story.html" target="_blank">“Call Me by Your Name”</a> and <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/ct-xpm-2010-09-28-sc-mov-0928-social-network-review-20100928-story.html" target="_blank">“The Social Network”</a> fame, and heir to the Hammer family oil fortune -- began trending online for being a cannibal. </blockquote> Sorry, even if you’re rich, reasonably good-looking, and famous, if you’re a hopeless a-hole and predator, you are not “genetically blessed”. Every story I looked at after listening to Maher repeated something similar. So this tweeter says it for me:  <div class="dk-editor-embed center-block" data-twitter-content="&lt;blockquote class="twitter-tweet"&gt;&lt;p lang="en" dir="ltr"&gt;gotta say I am pretty mad at how the media is handling the Armie Hammer news. This is NOT a story about alleged cannibalism for your LOLs, this is about SEXUALLY ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR and his REPEATED DISREGARD FOR BOUNDARIES.&lt;/p&gt;— Alicia Lutes (@alicialutes) &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/alicialutes/status/1358092995711488000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;February 6, 2021&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;"><div class="remove-embed-content">x</div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">gotta say I am pretty mad at how the media is handling the Armie Hammer news. This is NOT a story about alleged cannibalism for your LOLs, this is about SEXUALLY ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR and his REPEATED DISREGARD FOR BOUNDARIES.— Alicia Lutes (@alicialutes) <a href="https://twitter.com/alicialutes/status/1358092995711488000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2021</a></blockquote></div> If you can’t read the tweet:  <blockquote> Gotta say I am pretty mad at how the media is handling the Armie Hammer news. This is NOT a story about alleged cannibalism for your LOLs, this is about SEXUALLY ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR and his REPEATED DISREGARD FOR BOUNDARIES. </blockquote> All-caps shouting is the tweeter’s. But I totally agree.  Of course Hammer hasn’t had his day in court, so I offer none of this as proof of anything. What I want to focus on is Maher.  Lame excuse 1: They wanted it. He’s rich, famous, good-looking, women break their own rules for men like him all the time.  No. The allegations are that they had no idea how far he’d go, so at some point he did things to which they did not consent. No consent, no desire, it’s assault.  Lame excuse 2: He was open about his desires. They should have known what they were getting into.  Absolutely no! If a man told me he “wanted to eat” me, I would not assume he was a cannibal! No one has an obligation to know everything about someone before their first dates. That’s what dates are supposed to be for, getting to know each other.  Lame excuse 3: They didn’t complain until he broke up with them. The implication being that they were lying for revenge.  Obviously some complaints can be revenge for a bad breakup, but there are many unequal-power and PTSD reasons not to complain until safely out of the situation. The timing of a complaint has nothing to do with its truthfulness.  Bottom line, guys, listen up: CONSENT CAN BE WITHDRAWN AT ANY TIME. It doesn’t matter how kinky our own desires nor how hard we’re partying with you first. A woman could feel ill or get injured or have many reasons for deciding she doesn’t want to play anymore. YOU HAVE TO RESPECT “NO,” EVERY TIME. Doing otherwise IS assault, no matter who you are or who she is. You are overpowering her to do what you want because you can because you’re stronger or meaner. THAT IS CRIMINAL. Stop making excuses! I am sure I speak for all of us when I say that we are SO sick of this nonsense! And for that matter, anyone can be a victim of assault, sexual and otherwise, so I don’t only speak for women. If you are police or prosecutor, stop buying into this excuses nonsense! Your job is to keep us safe, not to enable the rich and powerful to do whatever they want.  rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) Abortion actionitem ArmieHammer BillMaher Cancer Cannibal Cats China Contraceptives COVID19 Diversity Dogs ElenaCarlena enjoyment Entertainment ExcusesExcuses GoldenGlobes India IndianSpicedJamaicanRum International Internet KamalaHarris libations Medicine Pandemic PleaseFeelFreetoAddToTheseTags PMS Pooties SexualAssault smoothie stimuluschecks TakeBackTheTech ThisWeekintheWaronWomen Toxicity twitwow Uganda WomensMedicine Woozles worklifebalance WoW wow1 _2014452 Sun, 07 Feb 2021 01:00:10 +0000 PWB Peeps: Toosdai Evening: Srs Not-Srs Poetry for Today, February 2, Illustrated! With a Poll! https://www.dailykos.com/story/2021/2/2/2013645/-PWB-Peeps-Toosdai-Evening-Srs-Not-Srs-Poetry-for-Today-February-2-Illustrated-With-a-Poll <div> <div> <div> Welcome back to the odd and whimsical poetery of the Peeps related to holidaze! Let’s investigate <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/" target="_blank" title="">what today is</a>, because we need all the holidaze we can celebrate. Furtunately, our country is back to more or less normality, about which the PWBs are very happy! Still, every day seems to be many holidays. Which is good, because we all have our favorites. So I will pick out one or two, and you can click the link above if you’re curious about the rest. This is an Open Thread, so please feel free to add your favorite pomes and photoes and holidaze for today in the Comments! <h3 class="AlignCenter">Today is <a href="https://www.hedgehogcentral.com/hedgehogday.shtml" target="_blank" title="">Hedgehog Day</a>!</h3> Bet you thought I was going to lead with Groundhog Day, didn’t you? It’s that too! But I’d thought I’d switch to the slightly less usual.  <blockquote> Long before the advent of Groundhog Day on February 2nd,  the Romans observed a similar event thousands of years ago on the exact same day. Rather than use the North American groundhog, the Romans used the hedgehog. “If during hibernation, he (the hedgehog) looks out of his den on 2nd February and sees his shadow it means there is a clear moon and six more weeks of winter so he returns to his burrow. The only difference between this ancient event and the present day version (aside from the hedgehog, of course) is the fact that the Romans would look to see if the hedgehog saw its shadow under a clear moon at night. </blockquote> <h4 class="AlignCenter"><a href="https://irenelatham.blogspot.com/2019/03/the-proper-way-to-meet-hedgehog-by.html" target="_blank">The Proper Way To Meet A Hedgehog</a></h4> by Allan Wolf <div> <div style="text-align:start">Today I walked outside and spied</div> <div style="text-align:start">a hedgehog on the hill.</div> <div style="text-align:start">When she and I met eye to eye,</div> <div style="text-align:start">she raised up straight and still.</div> <div style="text-align:start"></div> <div style="text-align:start">The quills across her back puffed out.</div> <div style="text-align:start">She froze in blind alarm.</div> <div style="text-align:start">In turn, I ceased to move about</div> <div style="text-align:start">to show I meant no harm.</div> <div style="text-align:start"></div> <div style="text-align:start">Awhile we stood there silently</div> <div style="text-align:start">in time as if to say,</div> <div style="text-align:start">"I'll leave you be if you leave me,"</div> <div style="text-align:start">then went our separate ways.</div> <div style="text-align:start"> <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="A adult European Hedgehog with her newborn child. The child (left) is trying to get to the mother's teats while the mother (right) is being cautious towards the camera." class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/913350/large/HedgehogsEuropeanreuseWikipediaEuropean_Hedgehog_Mother_and_Child.jpg?1612322046" title="A adult European Hedgehog with her newborn child. The child (left) is trying to get to the mother's teats while the mother (right) is being cautious towards the camera."> <figcaption>I couldn’t find one standing on a hill, so I brought two!</figcaption> </figure> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> [Allan Wolf is a multiple-prize-winning author, poet and presenter. Read an interview with him at the poem link above. Read more about him at his website <a href="http://www.allanwolf.com/about-allan/" target="_blank">here</a>. He is not always quite so whimsical (amongst others, he wrote a book about the Donner party)! His hedgehog poem is part of a collection of “<a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-proper-way-to-meet-a-hedgehog-and-other-how-to-poems_paul-b-janeczko/19492054/item/43288612/?mkwid=%7cdc&pcrid=494412958018&pkw=&pmt=&slid=&plc=&pgrid=119960546627&ptaid=pla-1151316948670&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIi9ray9zM7gIVjZyGCh14MQmyEAQYASABEgIC0fD_BwE#idiq=43288612&edition=20708105" target="_blank" title="">how-to poems</a>” edited by Paul B. Janeczko and illustrated by Richard Jones, available at several online retailers.]</div> <div> <div> <div></div> <div></div> </div> </div> rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) AllanWolf aminals Animals Cats Community Dogs ElenaCarlena ginger GingerCarlena GroundhogDay groundhogs hedgehogday HedgeHOGS holidaze how-to Jan4Insight LuvLee NationalHolidays OpenThread PaulBJaneczko Peeps PleaseFeelFreetoAddToTheseTags Poems Poetery Poetry Poll pomes Pooties potery PWB PWBPeeps RichardJones swampyankee TheProperWayToMeetAHedgehog triciawyse whimsical Whimsy Woozles _2013645 Wed, 03 Feb 2021 03:30:38 +0000 This Week in the War on Women: Open Thread https://www.dailykos.com/story/2021/1/30/2012986/-This-Week-in-the-War-on-Women-Open-Thread Please note: Shopping and stocking up on groceries this week has gone terribly wrong and I have wrenched my back. Even with a full load of pain killers, I can only sit up for a few minutes at a time. So I am publishing the opening that I wrote earlier this week, and will check in later to read comments. If you’d like, sign me up again for next week and I’ll publish all the rest of the items from this week and new items. Or add your items in Comments if you’d rather. Sorry I can’t do more tonight!  We have a unique opportunity and necessary obligation to expand SCOTUS! The size of the court had been set at nine justices since the 1860s because there were 9 judicial circuits that they oversaw. <a href="https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2019/04/03/pack-the-court-putting-a-popular-imprint-on-the-federal-judiciary/" target="_blank" title="">www.brookings.edu/</a>… According to the Brookings link, arguments to expand in the past went nowhere in part because over time the court was self-correcting. Now most of the conservative bench was selected by presidents who lost the popular vote and confirmed by fewer and fewer Senators. As you probably know, because rural states get the same number of Senators as urban states and rural tends to vote Republican, even when they were the majority of the Senate, the GOP actually represented a minority of the American people. Confirmation votes have been narrower and narrower, falling more and more along party lines. Fascinating table from Brookings: <div class="table-wrapper"> <table align="center" class="basic-table" style="text-align:start"> <thead> <tr style="vertical-align:baseline"> <td style="vertical-align:baseline">Supreme Court nominee</td> <td style="vertical-align:baseline">Vote</td> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr style="vertical-align:baseline"> <td style="vertical-align:baseline">Ginsburg 1993</td> <td style="vertical-align:baseline">96-3</td> </tr> <tr style="vertical-align:baseline"> <td style="vertical-align:baseline">Breyer 1994</td> <td style="vertical-align:baseline">87-9</td> </tr> <tr style="vertical-align:baseline"> <td style="vertical-align:baseline">Roberts 2005</td> <td style="vertical-align:baseline">78-22</td> </tr> <tr style="vertical-align:baseline"> <td style="vertical-align:baseline">Sotomayor 2009</td> <td style="vertical-align:baseline">68-31</td> </tr> <tr style="vertical-align:baseline"> <td style="vertical-align:baseline">Kagan 2010</td> <td style="vertical-align:baseline">63-37</td> </tr> <tr style="vertical-align:baseline"> <td style="vertical-align:baseline">Alito 2006</td> <td style="vertical-align:baseline">58-42</td> </tr> <tr style="vertical-align:baseline"> <td style="vertical-align:baseline">Gorsuch 2017</td> <td style="vertical-align:baseline">54-45</td> </tr> <tr style="vertical-align:baseline"> <td style="vertical-align:baseline">Thomas 1991</td> <td style="vertical-align:baseline">52-48</td> </tr> <tr style="vertical-align:baseline"> <td style="vertical-align:baseline">Kavanaugh 2018</td> <td style="vertical-align:baseline">50-48</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> But because of the overwork of the court, we may have a historic opportunity to enlarge the court without stimulating new rounds of court packing: Just change the law from nine to one justice for each circuit, currently 13. This will improve the court’s reflection of the people, and therefore its legitimacy, without expanding the court beyond what is needed for good governance. And it “just so happens” that those four new justices would be nominated by President Biden and confirmed by the Democratic Senate.  This would of course likely result in better SCOTUS decisions regarding civil rights of all sorts, including women’s reproductive rights. But, cough, we’re only doing it to improve the workings of the court and ensure no justice is overwhelmed with the supervision of too many circuits, cough.  As noted, this is an open thread. Please discuss. Thanks!  rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) CourtExpansion DemocraticStrategy PleaseFeelFreetoAddToTheseTags ReproductiveRights SCOTUS SupremeCourt SupremeCourtoftheUnitedStates ThisWeekintheWaronWomen twitwow WarOnInjustice WarOnWomen WoW wow1 _2012986 Sun, 31 Jan 2021 01:22:16 +0000 PWB Peeps: Toosdai Evening: Srs Not-Srs Poetry for Today, January 26, 2021, Illustrated! https://www.dailykos.com/story/2021/1/26/2012131/-PWB-Peeps-Toosdai-Evening-Srs-Not-Srs-Poetry-for-Today-January-26-2021-Illustrated <div> <div> <div> <div> <div> <div> <div> Welcome back to the odd and whimsical poetery of the Peeps related to holidaze! Let’s investigate <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/" target="_blank" title="">what today is</a>, because we need all the holidaze we can celebrate, right? Furtunately, our country is back to more or less normality, about which the PWBs are very happy! Still, every day seems to be many holidays. Which is good, because we all have our favorites. So I will pick out one or two, and you can click the link above if you’re curious about the rest. This is an Open Thread, so please feel free to add your favorite pomes and photoes and holidaze for today in the Comments! <h3 class="AlignCenter">Today is <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/9a35698a06c33574bedc0d83a0ff3420/national-plan-for-vacation-day" target="_blank" title="">National Plan for Vacation Day</a></h3> For now, of course, we’re making an art of the staycation (in our household, mostly by choosing top restaurants, browsing their online menus, and selecting new dishes to cook at home). I hope this won’t trigger anyone’s frustrations with the Covid, but I’ve been using all this lockdown time dreaming about real vacations. When it’s safe to travel again, if I can manage to afford it (purrhaps because we have not spent money going anywhere for what will probably be about 2 years!), I plan to go to Costa Rica to encourage their ecotourism (yes, I wrote a diary about it; <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/8/6/1967165/-Regenerative-Culture-Costa-Rica-Leads-the-Way-Showing-How-and-Why-Reforestation-Is-Done" target="_blank" title="">click here</a> for some great scenery and of course a critter!). How about you?  <blockquote> <h4>How to Observe National Plan for Vacation Day</h4> Celebrate the day for planning out your vacation days for the upcoming year. Project: Time Off has a <a href="https://projecttimeoff.com/plan-your-days/" target="_blank" title="">vacation planning tool</a> where you can enter the number of days you will have off and how you want to spend them. You could also check with travel organizations, as some have deals on the day. There are countless <a href="https://travel.usnews.com/rankings/best-usa-vacations/" target="_blank" title="">places in the United States</a> and <a href="https://travel.usnews.com/rankings/worlds-best-vacations/" target="_blank">around the world</a> that could be visited while on vacation. Perhaps you would rather take several smaller vacations throughout the year than one larger one. This can also easily be done as there are many places close to home where vacations can be taken. </blockquote> <h4 class="AlignCenter"><a href="https://poets.org/poem/vacation" target="_blank" title="">Vacation</a></h4> by Rita Dove <div> <div> <div> I love the hour before takeoff, that stretch of no time, no home but the gray vinyl seats linked like unfolding paper dolls. Soon we shall be summoned to the gate, soon enough there’ll be the clumsy procedure of row numbers and perforated stubs—but for now I can look at these ragtag nuclear families with their cooing and bickering <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="CatandKittensCalicoreuseWeLoveCatsandKittensbobtail-1.jpg" class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/910875/large/CatandKittensCalicoreuseWeLoveCatsandKittensbobtail-1.jpg?1611716081" title="CatandKittensCalicoreuseWeLoveCatsandKittensbobtail-1.jpg"> <figcaption>A ragtag nuclear family</figcaption> </figure> </div> or the heeled bachelorette trying to ignore a baby’s wail and the baby’s exhausted mother waiting to be called up early while the athlete, one monstrous hand asleep on his duffel bag, listens, perched like a seal trained for the plunge. Even the lone executive who has wandered this far into summer with his lasered itinerary, briefcase knocking his knees—even he has worked for the pleasure of bearing no more than a scrap of himself into this hall. <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-md"><img alt="CatwithBriefcasereusePxHeredownload.jpg" class="width-md" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/910876/large/CatwithBriefcasereusePxHeredownload.jpg?1611716302" title="CatwithBriefcasereusePxHeredownload.jpg"> <figcaption>Executive with briefcase</figcaption> </figure> </div> He’ll dine out, she’ll sleep late, they’ll let the sun burn them happy all morning —a little hope, a little whimsy before the loudspeaker blurts and we leap up to become Flight 828, now boarding at Gate 17. <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="Per TOS, noncommercial use of content OK" class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/910880/large/DogsonPlanereusepuppytubedotcomdogs-on-a-plane.jpg?1611716793" title="Per TOS, noncommercial use of content OK"> <figcaption>All aboard! (For more info on dogs and airplane travel, please see <a href="https://puppytoob.com/dogs-airplane-travel-risks/" target="_blank">PuppyToob</a>!)</figcaption> </figure> </div> Poem reprinted from On the Wing, published by the University of Iowa Press. </div> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div> <div></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> [Rita Dove served as the US Poet Laureate from 1993 to 1995 and as a Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets from 2005 to 2011.]</div> rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) aminals Animals Cats Community Dogs ElenaCarlena ginger GingerCarlena holidaze Jan4Insight LuvLee NationalHolidays NationalPlanForVacationDay OpenThread Peeps PleaseFeelFreetoAddToTheseTags Poems Poetery Poetry pomes Pooties potery PWB PWBPeeps RitaDove Staycations swampyankee triciawyse Vacation vacations whimsical Whimsy Woozles _2012131 Wed, 27 Jan 2021 03:24:22 +0000 PWB Peeps: Toosdai Evening: Srs Not-Srs Poetry for Today, January 19, 2021, Illustrated! https://www.dailykos.com/story/2021/1/19/2010444/-PWB-Peeps-Toosdai-Evening-Srs-Not-Srs-Poetry-for-Today-January-19-2021-Illustrated Welcome back to the odd and whimsical poetery of the Peeps related to holidaze! Let’s investigate <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/" target="_blank">what today is</a>, because we need all the holidaze we can celebrate, right? Lately, every day seems to be many holidays! Which is good, because we all have our favorites. So I will pick out one or two, and you can click the link above if you’re curious about the rest. This is an Open Thread, so please feel free to add your favorite pomes and photoes and holidaze for today in the Comments!  First a solemn note (no worries, we will resume fun shortly down below):  <h3 class="AlignCenter">Today is About One Year Since The First Covid Case In the US, And Today We Have Passed 400,000 Deaths</h3> There was a beautiful, moving ceremony at the Reflecting Pool in DC today including 400 lanterns, reflecting the power of a real President (if you missed it and wish you hadn’t, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=radeSL-n1Wo" target="_blank" title="">see PBS for full video</a>). It made things a little dusty here, but it’s healing dust.  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19:Doug Emhoff, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, Dr. Jill Biden and President-elect Joe Biden face the Reflecting Pool as they observe a moment of silence at a memorial for victims of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic at the Lincoln Memorial on the eve of the presidential inauguration on January 19, 2021 in Washington, DC. There have been nearly 400,00 deaths in the U.S. since the first confirmed case of the virus in Seattle in January of 2020. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)" class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/908092/large/BidenandHarrisatCovidmemorial19January2021reuseMichaelSantiagoGettyImages-1297311922.jpg?1611109291" title="WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19:Doug Emhoff, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, Dr. Jill Biden and President-elect Joe Biden face the Reflecting Pool as they observe a moment of silence at a memorial for victims of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic at the Lincoln Memorial on the eve of the presidential inauguration on January 19, 2021 in Washington, DC. There have been nearly 400,00 deaths in the U.S. since the first confirmed case of the virus in Seattle in January of 2020. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)"> <figcaption>Left to right earlier this evening: Tomorrow’s second husband, Kamala Harris, tomorrow’s first lady, Joe Biden. </figcaption> </figure> </div> <h3 class="AlignCenter">Yesterday was MLK Day</h3> Officebss did a wonderful MLK tribute with quotes and poetery in <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2021/01/18/2009968/-Morning-Open-Thread:-The-Starless-Midnight-and-the-Bright-Daybreak" target="_blank" title="">yesterday’s MOT</a>. If you missed it, you may want to go here. Here are a few snippets:  <blockquote> Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe. – Frederick Douglass </blockquote> <blockquote> I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality . . . I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word. – Martin Luther King Jr. </blockquote> <blockquote> Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed— Let it be that great strong land of love Where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme That any man be crushed by one above.   . (It never was America to me.)  — Langston Hughes </blockquote> <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="CatsYinYangreuseBoredPandablack-white-cats-yin-yang-45-582471dfc5b34__605.jpg" class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/908100/large/CatsYinYangreuseBoredPandablack-white-cats-yin-yang-45-582471dfc5b34__605.jpg?1611110816" title="CatsYinYangreuseBoredPandablack-white-cats-yin-yang-45-582471dfc5b34__605.jpg"> <figcaption>Unity!</figcaption> </figure> </div> Between MLK Day yesterday and Inauguration Day tomorrow is the much-prized Artist as Outlaw Day! <h3 class="AlignCenter">Today is <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/eb51290b84b5bd1b2facadc28c1f04ac/artist-as-outlaw-day" target="_blank" title="">Artist as Outlaw Day</a></h3> <blockquote> By some definitions, a true artist is one who breaks rules, shifts an art form in new directions, and makes people think in new ways, all while remaining true to their own artistic vision. These earthshaking artists can be seen as outlaws, as they rebel against the conventions of their time. While most outlaw artists forever remain outside of the mainstream, some popular stars have introduced avant-garde concepts and ideas—the Beatles and Bob Dylan being two examples. We celebrate all outlaw artists today, whether they work in visual arts, music, film, writing, or any other type of art. <h4>How to Observe</h4> You could celebrate the day by making your art, or by exploring artists who can be classified as outlaw artists. There are hundreds of such artists, and some may be considered outlaws more so than others. The definition of who qualifies as an outlaw will shift depending on who you ask as well.  </blockquote> I’ve been happy to present OranguTrump with his ridiculous red tie several times, but will refrain tonight. We have had quite enough of him! I thought you might enjoy looking back at less frequent guests. We hope to see their backsides soon (preferably in prison jumpsuits) if we haven’t already too!  <figure class="image-captioned width-xl align-left"><img alt="Steve_Bannboon.jpg" class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/361812/large/Steve_Bannboon.jpg?1486261026" title="Steve_Bannboon.jpg"> <figcaption>Steve Bannboon</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl align-right"><img alt="Ted_Cruzmel_NoWhiteSpace.jpg" class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/351920/large/Ted_Cruzmel_NoWhiteSpace.jpg?1484778546" title="Ted_Cruzmel_NoWhiteSpace.jpg"> <figcaption>Ted Cruzmel</figcaption> </figure> <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="Mick_Moosulvaney_with_Color.jpg" class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/407977/large/Mick_Moosulvaney_with_Color.jpg?1496299080" title="Mick_Moosulvaney_with_Color.jpg"> <figcaption>Mick Moosulvaney (centered because otherwise the text moves to the side)</figcaption> </figure> </div> Sure, they may look a little foolish. But am I being an outlaw or did they already make themselves look foolish? Maybe both.  Here’s an interesting artists’ website, <a href="https://theartsdesk.com/visual-arts/listed-poems-inspired-paintings" target="_blank" title="">The Arts Desk: Poems inspired by paintings</a>. One sample:  <h4 class="AlignCenter">Nude Descending a Staircase</h4> by X.J. Kennedy Toe upon toe, a snowing flesh,   A gold of lemon, root and rind,   She sifts in sunlight down the stairs   With nothing on. Nor on her mind.   We spy beneath the banister   A constant thresh of thigh on thigh--   Her lips imprint the swinging air   That parts to let her parts go by.   One-woman waterfall, she wears   Her slow descent like a long cape   And pausing, on the final stair   Collects her motions into shape. <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content">x</div> <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content"><a class="new_iframe_placeholder" href="#">x</a></div> <a class="iframe_placeholder youtube dk-embed" href="//youtube.com/watch?v=xrhcqgfqPDI" title="" data-frameborder="0" data-height="281" data-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xrhcqgfqPDI" data-width="500">YouTube Video</a></div> </div> Mew descending a staircase: More or less graceful? rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) aminals Animals ArtistAsOutlawDay Cartoons Cats Community CovidAnniversary Dogs DougEmhoff ElenaCarlena FrederickDouglass ginger GingerCarlena holidaze InaugurationDay Jan4Insight JillBiden JoeBiden KamalaHarris LangstonHughes LesBeastiables LuvLee MarcelDuchamps MartinLutherKing MickMoosulvaney MLKDay NationalHolidays NudeDescendingAStaircase OpenThread Peeps PleaseFeelFreetoAddToTheseTags Poems Poetery Poetry pomes Pooties potery PWB PWBPeeps SecondGentleman SecondHusband SteveBannboon swampyankee TedCruzmel triciawyse whimsical Whimsy Woozles XJKennedy _2010444 Wed, 20 Jan 2021 03:32:33 +0000 Religious Freedom Day: Right-Wing Extremists: You. Are. Not. Christians! https://www.dailykos.com/story/2021/1/15/2009531/-Religious-Freedom-Day-Right-Wing-Extremists-You-Are-Not-Christians The Religious Freedom Day group has been planning for Religious Freedom Week for maybe a month or more, so I was planning to write a considerably less long, less ranty diary than this one. But you know. Meanwhile. Events. [Edited to add: Before reading any further please be aware there’s a DKos tag you might like to check out for all this week’s diaries, #<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/tags/ReligiousFreedomDay" target="_blank" title="">ReligiousFreedomDay</a>. Now back to our regularly scheduled rant.] Religious Freedom Day will be officially celebrated tomorrow in the United States. So look, right-wing extremists, before you use tomorrow as an excuse to rant about how you are so put-upon and not free: Once and for all: You are NOT Christians! Jesus Christ was not about HATE. Hate is on you. Own your own crap! To be clear: When I say that you are not Christians, I do not mean that as an insult. I do not mean that you are going to Hell. I don’t believe that. I don’t care what religion you want to be a part of. Just stop LYING about it!!! Want to live by Leviticus? Fine. Wear clothing of one fabric, never spill your seed, never cut your hair, keep kosher, don’t eat shellfish. Whatever floats your boat. But it’s not Leviticus Christ. Call yourselves Leviticusians. Want to live by “Saint” Paul? Fine. Enjoy that celibacy. Good luck with that, but more power to you. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ But it’s not Paul Christ. Call yourselves Paulians. Be whoever you want to be, no harm, no foul. But stop the HATE! That’s what I care about: If you’re a hateful, murderous, conscience-silenced soul. Some of Christianity’s greatest thinkers agree with me that salvation doesn’t depend on what you call yourselves. C.S. Lewis, who wrote the Chronicles of Narnia as both children’s fairy tales and Christian allegory, with Aslan the Lion as the Jesus Christ figure, wrote about the battle between good and evil, after which Aslan accepted a man from the “EVIL” side into heaven. Of course his followers questioned him. He responded (this may not be an exact quote, but what I remember from reading these books repeatedly as a child): <div class="table-wrapper"> <table align="center" class="basic-table" width="500"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="background-color:#ffd500; text-align:left; vertical-align:middle">He was faithful to his wife, loyal to his friends, generous to those in need, brave in battle. He worshipped Me. He just called Me by another name.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> I would go one step further: Every agnostic and atheist I know struggles to figure out how to be a good person in the absence of deferring to a dubious and fallible authority. So you don’t personify God. You just call Her by another name: Morality or Justice or Fairness, Love or Empathy. So no, you don’t have to be Christian. But if you want to be Christian, you do have to know your Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John: The stories of Jesus Christ and His teachings. The rest of the Bible is context and history and contrast. If you’re not following the Jesus Christ of the Gospels, then by definition, you’re not Christian. Again, it’s not an insult. It’s definitional.  Granted, we none of us are perfect Christians. I think that God whispers to us what She wants. The world shouts. Our own selfishness shouts. We will be fallible; forgiveness is made for those times when we try our best but we’re less than perfect. You can make mistakes, sincerely repent, be forgiven, become Christian again. But in the middle of your sin, you are not acting as a Christian. It is way past time that you recognized that!  Yes, I am well aware that both sides think the other is wrong: <a href="https://www.yesmagazine.org/social-justice/2019/12/24/political-christian-belief/" target="_blank">The Christian Right and Left Share the Same Faith But Couldn’t Be More Different</a>. <blockquote> Progressive and conservative Christians do have a few things in common.... Both types of Christians are equally dogmatic about their interpretations of scripture. </blockquote> But a howling mob stringing up nooses and looking for executions? That is decidedly anti-Christ. If the Gospels contain any Big Messages, that is one of the most obvious! Welp, many of you are facing the prospect of long prison terms. So you might as well use your time wisely. I think we all have that bit of the Holy Spirit within us, what you might call Superego or Conscience. Meditate, seek answers inside yourselves, think about what you tried to do, find your values. Maybe you’ll come through your expensive trial ordeals or out of prison in a few decades, a better person for your trials.  If you manage to avoid prison, think about how easy it is to get caught up in a mob. And be the voice of Resistance to a gathering of the mob next time. It’s the HATE that needs to stop. Don’t pull that kind of crap and ascribe it to any version of God or not-God. Don’t pull that crap whilst calling yourselves elenacarlenians either. I would find that insulting and offensive. I can only imagine how furious with you an actual God might be. Cut it out! Look, I understand righteous indignation. I’m a Bernie supporter. I am frustrated that he is not president. But I have been pleasantly surprised by how Biden and Harris are talking the talk. I think we’re all going to be happy with their leadership. So give it a chance. You really have no choice. If there had been fraud, the president’s DOJ and/or FBI and/or private investigators for his lawyers would have found it and presented it to the courts all of the 60+ times they lost in court for lack of evidence. There was no widespread fraud. Joe Biden won about 80 million votes.  And since you know I can’t leave a diary without a cat photo, let me just say that worship of Ceiling Cat is purrfectly fine, and I have also done that from time to time. Srsly. Now go, have a Happy Religious Freedom Day, and sin no moar. <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="amen-an-srsly_zps81c96a26.JPG" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/497814/large/amen-an-srsly_zps81c96a26.JPG?1516481452" title="amen-an-srsly_zps81c96a26.JPG"> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> </div> PLEASE NOTE: I am thinking of publishing some version of this in right-wing forums tomorrow, probably under another pseudonym. Feedback greatly appreciated to that end!  rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) Capitol CapitolRiot Cats Christianity Coup Election ElenaCarlena Insurrection Pooties Religion ReligiousFreedomDay ReligiousFreedomWeek Reptublicans RFD RFW Sedition Treason trump _2009531 Sat, 16 Jan 2021 01:59:07 +0000 PWB Peeps: Toosdai Evening: Is It After 10 PM Eastern Already??? https://www.dailykos.com/story/2021/1/12/2008732/-PWB-Peeps-Toosdai-Evening-Is-It-After-10-PM-Eastern-Already Welp, I am out of the habit of readying my Toosdai diary. So tonight will be a quickie. I made my version of <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/5/23/1947194/-What-s-for-Dinner-v14-46-Cooking-in-the-Time-of-Covid" target="_blank">French Onion Soup</a> for supper. Delicious! But it took forever to cut up all the onions this time — I had to keep stopping to wash my face and hands and get fresh air! Those were some strong critters this time. So we just finished eating a few minutes ago.  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="IMG_0631.jpg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/808711/large/IMG_0631.jpg?1590277889"> <figcaption>Lightly browned Swiss cheese on top — a must!</figcaption> </figure> </div> Anyway. I think, considering the last few weeks and the anticipation of the coming few weeks, from now on only cats and dogs should be elected to office — Democats and Demuttcrats. And maybe they should do all the voting too. <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Linked-dog-at-computer-low-voting-cat-videso-attb-cheezburger.jpg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/789238/large/Linked-dog-at-computer-low-voting-cat-videso-attb-cheezburger.jpg?1586385728" title="Linked-dog-at-computer-low-voting-cat-videso-attb-cheezburger.jpg"> <figcaption>(h/t Dixiecollie)</figcaption> </figure> </div> <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="kittens-voting.jpg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/676899/large/kittens-voting.jpg?1558172829" title="kittens-voting.jpg"> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> </div> Please discuss! This is, as always, an Open Thread.  UPDATE: Is anyone else having trouble with jumping comments and Daily Kos hanging up and freezing the browser tonight? Or is it just my poor old laptop?  rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) Cats Dogs ElenaCarlena Frenchonionsoup Kittens OpenThread Peeps PleaseFeelFreetoAddToTheseTags Pooties PWB PWBPeeps Woozles _2008732 Wed, 13 Jan 2021 03:31:15 +0000 PWB Peeps: Toosdai Evening: Srs Not-Srs Poetry for Today, January 5, 2021, Illustrated! Updated https://www.dailykos.com/story/2021/1/5/2005993/-PWB-Peeps-Toosdai-Evening-Srs-Not-Srs-Poetry-for-Today-January-5-2021-Illustrated Update: Both Georgian Dems win! We have the Senate! Woot woot! Aminals all over the world are celebrating! Now we just need to survive the “ceremonial” counting of Biden’s votes today and maybe into tomorrow, then it’s party time!  <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content">x</div> <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content"><a class="new_iframe_placeholder" href="#">x</a></div> <a class="iframe_placeholder youtube dk-embed" href="//youtube.com/watch?v=EAHNIGOaHck" title="" data-frameborder="0" data-height="281" data-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EAHNIGOaHck" data-width="500">YouTube Video</a></div> </div> We’re back, for better or worse! And it will be better for the most part, because it’s a New Year with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in it! So welcome back to the odd and whimsical poetery of the Peeps related to holidaze. Let’s investigate <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/" target="_blank">what today is</a>, because we need all the holidaze we can celebrate, right? Maybe this year we’ll feel a little less dazed.  Lately, every day seems to be many holidays! Which is good, because we all have our favorites. So I will pick out one or two, and you can click the link above if you’re curious about the rest. This is an Open Thread, so please feel free to add your favorite pomes and photoes and holidaze for today in the Comments! Today is foremost on our minds because of the Senate race in Georgia. Hmm, Georgia on our minds, seems like I’ve heard that somewhere before…. But anyway, results may not be available until very late tonight, so we’ll ignore that for now after a short prayer for candidates Ossoff and Warnock.  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="DogsinPrayerreusePixabayKarstenPaulickcropped.jpg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/901515/large/DogsinPrayerreusePixabayKarstenPaulickcropped.jpg?1609849344" title="DogsinPrayerreusePixabayKarstenPaulickcropped.jpg"> <figcaption>Pleez, O Ceiling Cat, give us the Senate! No more dawg eat dawg pawlitics!</figcaption> </figure> </div> <h3 class="AlignCenter">Today is National Bird Day!</h3> Whilst we’re ordinarily crazy about pooties and woozles, this does not eliminate the occasional nod to our feathered friends! And today is their day!  <figure class="image-captioned align-left"><img alt="CatwritingQuillreuseVeryFunnyPicsfunny-pictures-dear-bird-700x613.jpg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/691712/large/CatwritingQuillreuseVeryFunnyPicsfunny-pictures-dear-bird-700x613.jpg?1561980323" title="CatwritingQuillreuseVeryFunnyPicsfunny-pictures-dear-bird-700x613.jpg"> <figcaption>No, not like this! </figcaption> </figure> <figure class="image-captioned align-right"><img alt="DogchasingBirdsreuseAirForceSpecialOps062907-F-0000N-005.JPG" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/761774/large/DogchasingBirdsreuseAirForceSpecialOps062907-F-0000N-005.JPG?1580465363" title="DogchasingBirdsreuseAirForceSpecialOps062907-F-0000N-005.JPG"> <figcaption>Not like this neither! </figcaption> </figure> <h4><a href="https://www.checkiday.com/bf8da3a1bd8c4fd6a36db075b2f8fc96/national-bird-day" target="_blank">how to observe</a>: </h4> <blockquote> You can take part in the day in numerous ways. If you want a bird, adopt a displaced bird instead of one from a pet store, and only do it if you can make a lifetime care commitment. Before adopting a bird such as a parrot, make sure you think about <a href="http://www.avianwelfare.org/issues/pets.htm" target="_blank">their needs</a>. This will help stop more bird displacement in the future. You could help raise the demand for birds in the wild, instead of helping to raise the demand for birds as pets. Support conservation efforts to help increase ecotourism, which will allow more birds will be seen in the wild. It is fitting to spend the day seeing wild birds yourself, whether they be exotic or not. Check to see if pet stores in your community sell birds. If they do, talk to someone at the store, organize a peaceful protest, or write a letter to a newspaper. You could also check if national pet stores sell birds and contact them as well. Teach children about the plight of captive birds by sharing with them the book <a href="http://www.luckythelorikeet.com/" target="_blank">Lucky</a>. Supporting well regarded <a href="http://www.avianwelfare.org/issues/sheltering.htm" target="_blank">bird rescues and sanctuaries</a> is another way to observe the day, and The Avian Welfare Coalition also recommends supporting organizations such as the <a href="http://indonesian-parrot-project.org/" target="_blank">Indonesian Parrot Project</a>, <a href="https://www.oneearthconservation.org/" target="_blank">One Earth Conservation</a>, and <a href="https://www.fosterparrots.com/hatched-to-fly-free" target="_blank">Hatched to Fly Free</a>. Visit the National Bird Day <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NationalBirdDay" target="_blank">Facebook page</a> and Avian Welfare Coalition website for more information. </blockquote> <h4 class="AlignCenter"><a href="http://www.online-literature.com/coleridge/642/" target="_blank">the nightingale</a></h4> by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1798) [For some reason, classical bird poems tend toward the melancholy — and this is very long! — so I’ll pick out some favorite parts. Please click the link if you’d like to read all.] No cloud, no relique of the sunken day Distinguishes the West, no long thin slip Of sullen light, no obscure trembling hues. Come, we will rest on this old mossy bridge! You see the glimmer of the stream beneath, But hear no murmuring: it flows silently. O'er its soft bed of verdure. All is still. A balmy night! and though the stars be dim, Yet let us think upon the vernal showers That gladden the green earth, and we shall find A pleasure in the dimness of the stars. And hark! the Nightingale begins its song, 'Most musical, most melancholy' bird! A melancholy bird? Oh! idle thought! In Nature there is nothing melancholy. <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="NightingaleSingingreusePixabaywal_172619nightingale-4471972_1920.jpg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/901731/large/NightingaleSingingreusePixabaywal_172619nightingale-4471972_1920.jpg?1609901551" title="NightingaleSingingreusePixabaywal_172619nightingale-4471972_1920.jpg"> <figcaption>The cheerful nightingale!</figcaption> </figure> </div> -skip- My Friend, and thou, our Sister! we have learnt A different lore: we may not thus profane Nature's sweet voices, always full of love And joyance! 'Tis the merry Nightingale That crowds and hurries, and precipitates With fast thick warble his delicious notes, As he were fearful that an April night Would be too short for him to utter forth His love-chant, and disburthen his full soul Of all its music! -skip- Never elsewhere in one place I knew So many nightingales; and far and near, In wood and thicket, over the wide grove, They answer and provoke each other's song, With skirmish and capricious passagings, And murmurs musical and swift jug jug, And one low piping sound more sweet than all Stirring the air with such a harmony, That should you close your eyes, you might almost Forget it was not day! On moonlight bushes, Whose dewy leaflets are but half-disclosed, You may perchance behold them on the twigs, Their bright, bright eyes, their eyes both bright and full, Glistening, while many a glow-worm in the shade Lights up her love-torch. -skip- The moon Emerging, hath awakened earth and sky With one sensation, and those wakeful birds Have all burst forth in choral minstrelsy, As if some sudden gale had swept at once A hundred airy harps! ... Many a nightingale perch giddily On blossomy twig still swinging from the breeze, And to that motion tune his wanton song Like tipsy Joy that reels with tossing head. Farewell! O Warbler! till tomorrow eve, And you, my friends! farewell, a short farewell! We have been loitering long and pleasantly, And now for our dear homes. -skip- Once more, farewell, Sweet Nightingale! once more, my friends! farewell. <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Free image/jpeg, Resolution: 2473x1377, File size: 500Kb, three birds fly over a green tree" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/901732/large/BirdsflyOverTreesreusePixydotorg146917.jpg?1609901784" title="Free image/jpeg, Resolution: 2473x1377, File size: 500Kb, three birds fly over a green tree"> <figcaption>Farewell, night birds! (OK, probably not nightingales but I couldn’t find any in sharable photos)</figcaption> </figure> </div> rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) aminals Animals Birdeez Birdies Birds Cats Community Dogs ElenaCarlena ginger GingerCarlena holidaze Jan4Insight LuvLee NationalBirdDay NationalHolidays OpenThread Peeps PleaseFeelFreetoAddToTheseTags Poems Poetery Poetry pomes Pooties potery PWB PWBPeeps Recommended SamuelTaylorColeridge swampyankee TheNightingale triciawyse whimsical Whimsy Woozles _2005993 Wed, 06 Jan 2021 03:09:53 +0000 How Many Hard Knocks Can One Person Take? Fundraiser For J Graham With Matching-Funds Challenges! https://www.dailykos.com/story/2020/12/20/2003173/-How-Many-Hard-Knocks-Can-One-Person-Take-Fundraiser-For-J-Graham-With-Matching-Funds-Challenge Update 10 PM Eastern Wednesday 12/23/2020: All matches met and exceeded! We are now over $7000 for J Graham. Thank you all so, so much! Will update here at the top again if we get any more major challenges. :-D Update 4 PM Eastern Wednesday 12/23/2020: Last match completed and topped! Woot! You are all doing SO great at meeting challenges! So, let’s go again! Currently at $5191, which I am pretty sure doesn’t include the matching $200, which will bring it to $5391. And now we have a new anonymous donor who would like to offer a new $500 challenge match! Can we raise another $500? Let’s go get it! Thank you all! Update 8 PM Eastern Monday 12/21/2020: Last match completed and then some. Now we have a new $200 challenge match! We’re currently at $4946. Let’s go match that and then some too! Thank you all, especially our generous anonymous matching donors! This is exciting! Hi folks! I’m hosting this fundraiser because I’ve known J Graham for years, we’ve spoken and Zoomed IRL, and I know she is really in serious straits. And of course she’s a cat lover! And I’ve been ill before, recovering from illness, and frightened for my financial situation; so I can relate to JG’s situation, it’s unfortunately very familiar! It’s SO difficult to be stressed out because of finances and still focus on healing. I know if we can give her a breather, she’ll soon be so much healthier! Even without the tremendous comfort of a furry friend at the moment. :-(  J Graham has been worrying about her finances for months now, but has really, really not wanted to ask for help. But in the midst of a pandemic, pulling oneself up gets harder. And how many hard knocks can one person take before there’s just no way to get back up again without help? So with a little push from her friends, she has agreed to ask for help. I’m hoping the DKos family will come through for her. Thank you all so much, for all you do! From ec and the pootie angels <div class="table-wrapper"> <table align="center" class="basic-table" width="600"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="background-color:yellow; text-align:center; width:400px">To donate, please go to: <a href="https://www.mightycause.com/story/J-Gr-From-Dk" target="_blank">www.mightycause.com/...</a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) Cancer ChallengeMatch CommunitySupport Financialdistress Fundraiser Pandemic PleaseFeelFreetoAddToTheseTags Pooties Recommended Recovery _2003173 Sun, 20 Dec 2020 20:43:20 +0000 This Week in the War on Women: 12/13-19/2020: Winter Solstice Edition https://www.dailykos.com/story/2020/12/19/2002527/-This-Week-in-the-War-on-Women-12-13-19-2020-Winter-Solstice-Edition <h3 class="AlignCenter">Happy Holidays!!</h3> This time of year we celebrate Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Christmas, and so on. But it all started with the Winter Solstice. <figure class="image-captioned align-left"><img alt="Decorations_guinea_pig_with_Kwanzaa_candles_attb_top_7_pets_animals_kwanza_at_petslady_dot_com.jpg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/615820/large/Decorations_guinea_pig_with_Kwanzaa_candles_attb_top_7_pets_animals_kwanza_at_petslady_dot_com.jpg?1543199418" title="Decorations_guinea_pig_with_Kwanzaa_candles_attb_top_7_pets_animals_kwanza_at_petslady_dot_com.jpg"> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> <figure class="image-captioned align-right"><img alt="DogHanukkahOverdoingreuseCheezburger.jpg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/895599/large/DogHanukkahOverdoingreuseCheezburger.jpg?1608328843" title="DogHanukkahOverdoingreuseCheezburger.jpg"> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-lg"><img alt="CatbattingtreeornamentsreusePxfuelnew-year-s-eve-cat-christmas-decorations-christmas-tree-royalty-free-thumbnail.jpg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/750999/large/CatbattingtreeornamentsreusePxfuelnew-year-s-eve-cat-christmas-decorations-christmas-tree-royalty-free-thumbnail.jpg?1577338356" title="CatbattingtreeornamentsreusePxfuelnew-year-s-eve-cat-christmas-decorations-christmas-tree-royalty-free-thumbnail.jpg"> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> </div> How far back did it all start? At least the <a href="https://www.history.com/topics/natural-disasters-and-environment/winter-solstice" target="_blank">Neolithic period of the Stone Age</a>! Stonehenge is oriented to the winter solstice sunset; Newgrange is oriented to the winter solstice sunrise, when <blockquote> <a href="https://www.history.com/news/7-little-known-wonders-of-the-ancient-world" target="_blank">the rising sun shines</a> through a “roof box” near the entrance and floods the main passageway and the inner chamber with light. </blockquote> <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Photograph: Cyril Byrne The spirit of Newwgrange yesterday morning while a woman bows her head as the passage chamber is illuminated by the Wnter Solstice at the Co Meath site which was seen on the web for the first time..Dec21st-07" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/895594/large/NewgrangeatWinterSolsticereuseNASAdotgov.jpg?1608328127" title="Photograph: Cyril Byrne The spirit of Newwgrange yesterday morning while a woman bows her head as the passage chamber is illuminated by the Wnter Solstice at the Co Meath site which was seen on the web for the first time..Dec21st-07"> <figcaption>Inside Newgrange during the winter solstice just after sunrise</figcaption> </figure> </div> I could not find any articles on women’s involvement with Newgrange nor Stonehenge back when they were built! Such articles do not mention the gender of any of their builders. But I did find that the beginning of the Neolithic period is believed to be a long period of <a href="https://www.zmescience.com/science/gender-inequality-neolithic-emergence-22062019/" target="_blank">gender equality</a> — at the start of that era, men and women appear to be equal, so it seems to me that these sites may have been built with full participation by both. What, women can’t lift big blocks, you say? Neither could men, that’s the whole mystery of these places! So if a pulley or other technological system could be devised to build these, it could just as easily make building possible for women as for men. Note that the above article explains that later graves show men, but not women, with war wounds, and archaeologists equate that with a rise in male dominance. No one seems to have thought that perhaps during a time of increasing violence, women might have been in charge, sending the men out and protecting themselves, indicating perhaps a rise in female dominance. Welp, <a href="https://www.archaeology-gender-europe.org/docs/wylie1.pdf" target="_blank">archaeology is rife with assumptions based upon society as it currently stands</a>. Certainly, these ancient sites have entranced both women and men since: <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content">x</div> <a class="iframe_placeholder youtube dk-embed" href="//youtube.com/watch?v=exjUiHlAhJg" data-frameborder="0" data-src="//www.youtube.com/embed/exjUiHlAhJg">YouTube Video</a></div> <blockquote> <div style="text-align:left"> <div> <div>There is a place on the east Mysterious ring, a magical ring of stones The druids lived here once, they said Forgotten is the race that no one knows</div> <div></div> <div>The circled tomb of a different age Secret lines carved on ancient stones Heroic kings laid down to rest Forgotten is the race that no one knows</div> </div> <div> <div></div> <div>Wait for the sun on a winter's day And a beam of light shines across the floor Mysterious ring, a magical ring Forgotten is the race that no one knows</div> </div> </div> <div style="text-align:left"></div> <div style="text-align:left">Source: <a href="https://www.lyricfind.com/">LyricFind</a></div> <div style="text-align:left"> <div>Songwriter: Ciaran Marion Brennan</div> </div> </blockquote> (Note that in the above video, the photo of Druids shows them at Stonehenge, not Newgrange. And that archaeologists have determined that both sites predate the arrival of the Celts so are not druidical artifacts, even though both are popular gathering sites for rituals with modern druids.) (Note also that <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/race-is-a-social-construct-scientists-argue/" target="_blank">race is a social construct</a>, not a biological reality. So we do actually know the “race” that built Newgrange — the Neolithic peoples. But the video features a pretty melody, prettily performed, with lots of pretty photos of Newgrange, which many people have never heard of before. We educate and entertain!) Here’s another interesting bit about the winter solstice: The ancient Romans celebrated <a href="https://www.history.com/topics/natural-disasters-and-environment/winter-solstice" target="_blank">Saturnalia</a> during the week before: <blockquote> Saturnalia was a hedonistic time, when food and drink were plentiful and the normal Roman social order was turned upside down. For a week, slaves would become masters. Peasants were in command of the city. Business and schools were closed so that everyone could join in the fun. </blockquote> Sounds like a great holiday to commemorate and imitate! Maybe the guys should prepare the feast this year. The homeless should move into the White House and the $Rump family move to the streets. What else could we turn upside down? <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="MenCookreuseSnappyGoatdotcom1c8c239268cc1d2a45ebaa052494888aa14a9071.jpg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/895837/large/MenCookreuseSnappyGoatdotcom1c8c239268cc1d2a45ebaa052494888aa14a9071.jpg?1608350369" title="MenCookreuseSnappyGoatdotcom1c8c239268cc1d2a45ebaa052494888aa14a9071.jpg"> <figcaption>This Saturnalia thing might totally work for me. ;-)</figcaption> </figure> </div> <h3 class="AlignCenter">In Other News:</h3> <a href="https://www.euronews.com/2020/12/15/paris-fined-90-000-for-breaching-gender-parity-law-by-appointing-too-many-women-in-senior-#spotim-launcher-widget-1321078">Paris fined €90,000 for breaching gender parity law by appointing too many women in senior roles</a> <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-15/u-s-asks-supreme-court-to-halt-mail-delivery-of-abortion-pills">U.S. Asks High Court to Halt Mail Delivery of Abortion Pills</a> <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/california-medicaid-funding-trump-administration-abortion-insurance-requirement/">Trump administration to withhold Medicaid funding from California over abortion insurance requirement</a> <h3 class="AlignCenter">Good news: </h3> Book Recommendation: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Delusions-Gender-Society-Neurosexism-Difference/dp/0393340244" target="_blank">Delusions of Gender</a>, by Cordelia Fine: <blockquote>Passionately argued and unfailingly astute, Delusions of Gender provides us with a much-needed corrective to the belief that men’s and women’s brains are intrinsically different―a belief that, as Fine shows with insight and humor, all too often works to the detriment of ourselves and our society.</blockquote> <hr> A Mighty Girl provides the <a href="https://www.amightygirl.com/holiday-guide?ref=pop" target="_blank">Girl Empowerment Holiday Gift Guide</a> for children of all ages. Including for teens, “<a href="https://www.amightygirl.com/cat-crimes" target="_blank">Cat Crimes: The Who’s to Blame Logic Game</a>”. Sounds like fun! <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Catandmagnifying-glass-3954881_1920reusePixabay.jpg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/895828/large/Catandmagnifying-glass-3954881_1920reusePixabay.jpg?1608349636" title="Catandmagnifying-glass-3954881_1920reusePixabay.jpg"> <figcaption>“Hey, this is my innocent face!”</figcaption> </figure> </div> <hr> Feminist Recipes: Delish, quick, and in honour of our sheroes: <h4 class="AlignCenter">Jane Fondue</h4> (Great for a holiday snack break!) <div class="table-wrapper"> <table align="center" class="basic-table" width="600"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="background-color:#fae6fa"> Ingredients — Snacks for 4 Bit of unsalted butter 1 package (8 oz.) aged Gruyere cheese, shredded 1 package (4 oz.) aged Emmentaler cheese, shredded 1 bottle (750 mL) aged Pinot Blanc wine 1-2 T Kirsch to taste (optional) Cornstarch as needed Large shrimp (8-12 oz.), precooked and cooled Broccoli and/or cauliflower florets (1/2-1 head) Apples (2 yellow, 2 red), sliced then washed with lemon water </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> (NOTE: Both the cheese and the wine get better and better with increasing age. The wine is fruity, spicy, nutty, and full-bodied. Note also I have never used Kirsch but one of our admins swears by it, so I know I’ll be trying it next time! And since Ms. Fonda has always been a bit of a “health nut,” we offer healthier dippers than the usual bread! Dippers can be prepared in advance and stored in the fridge. Lemon wash keeps apples from browning after cutting.) Instructions: Rub inside of fondue pot all over with butter to help keep fondue from sticking. Heat about a cup of wine in pot just short of boiling. Gradually stir in about 3/4 of cheese, stirring constantly until cheese melts. Taste and add cheese or wine as needed to balance flavors. If mixture needs to thicken, add a bit of cornstarch. Continue alternating additions, stirring until pleased with taste and texture. Serve immediately: Place fondue pot over low flame in middle of table. Serve surrounded by shrimp, veggies and fruits for dipping, attractively arranged with alternating colors, either on platters around fondue pot or on individual plates. During Covid year: Only indulge with people you already live with. And make sure everyone washes hands for at least 20 seconds before coming to the table! <hr> As always, the WOW diary is a collaboration amongst members of the group. Thank you to mettle fatigue, officebss, SandraLLAP and ramara for links and discussion behind the scenes! If you have other positive notes or recipes you’d like to add to the Comments as a “gift” for the holidays, please feel free to share!!! rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) Abortion Archaeology BlackWomenInScience California Cheese CordeliaFine DelusionsofGender fondue France Gender genderparity History medi-cal Medicaid Newgrange Paris Recipes Saturnalia Sexism Solstice Stonehenge ThisWeekintheWaronWomen WarOnWomen WinterSolstice WoW wow1 _2002527 Sun, 20 Dec 2020 00:59:07 +0000 I can't even. https://www.dailykos.com/story/2020/11/19/1997043/-I-can-t-even <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/10/18/1987560/-Ginger-is-the-Bestest-Pootie-in-the-Entire-Universe" target="_blank">Ginger</a> passed away last night. The vet saw her the day before and thought she was doing better, but warned me she was fragile. She threw up last evening, but I was able to get food and water into her later. She rested in my lap, leaning against me so she could sleep listening to my heartbeat like she liked to do. About an hour after that, she coughed quietly a few times. Then she was gone. Her smart brain ran out of resources. Her big valiant heart was done.  For the last month, since she was put on Phenobarbital for seizures and the medicine made her sleep too much, I have been seeing to her every need 24/7. I am exhausted and of course heartbroken. My face keeps leaking.  So I will be gone for a while.  Oh, and eff 2020. Its only saving grace is that 2021 will be different.  UPDATE: I don’t have the energy to respond individually, but know that I am reading when not sleeping, and all your condolences, comments and photos are greatly appreciated. Thank you! I feel supported and less alone. It’s odd how physical such loss feels — my whole body aches as if battered and bruised. Now I need to be here for Oreo, who has been mostly hiding underneath the furniture. He did sleep with me for a little while last night, so he doesn’t seem to be holding it against me. But he is a natural scaredy-cat and never happy with any change in his world, and he is another very senior pootie. Sigh.  rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) Cats ElenaCarlena F2020 ginger GingerCarlena Oreo Pooties Recommended _1997043 Fri, 20 Nov 2020 02:32:55 +0000 PWB Peeps: Toosdai Evening: Srs Not-Srs Poetry for Today, November 17, Illustrated! https://www.dailykos.com/story/2020/11/17/1996513/-PWB-Peeps-Toosdai-Evening-Srs-Not-Srs-Poetry-for-Today-November-17-Illustrated Welcome back to the odd and whimsical poetery of the Peeps related to holidaze! Let’s investigate <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/" target="_blank" title="">what today is</a>, because we need all the holidaze we can celebrate, right? Lately, every day seems to be many holidays! Which is good, because we all have our favorites. So I will pick out one or two, and you can click the link above if you’re curious about the rest. This is an Open Thread, so please feel free to add your favorite pomes and photoes and holidaze for today in the Comments! <h3 class="AlignCenter">Today is <a href="http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/November/takeahikeday.htm" target="_blank" title="">National Take a Hike Day</a></h3> This could be healthy!  <blockquote> Walking, and hiking is an excellent way to get exercise, and get into shape. Hikes are distinguished from walks, in that they are taken in the woods, hills, mountains, or somewhere else in a nature setting. Hikes not only give you exercise, they also provide scenic sites and vistas, that are good for relaxation of the mind and soul. There is some reference to this as National Tell Your Boss to Take a Hike Day. We think it likely evolved out of Take a Hike Day. We have found no factual information whatsoever, on this derivation of Take a Hike Day. We also believe that telling your boss to "take a hike", may not be healthy to your employment situation. </blockquote> Great selection of nature hikes and related poems at the link just below:  <h4 class="AlignCenter"><a href="https://www.heraldnet.com/life/the-poetry-of-nature-hike-these-6-hikes-read-these-6-poems/" target="_blank" title="">Norway Pass</a></h4> by Emily Johnston 1980: Mt. St. Helens erupts, incinerating hundreds of square miles — thick cathedrals of age-old forests and sweet damp and scurrying — and leaving them an ashen devastation. Days later, geologists in safety vests helicopter in to the crater’s edge. One hears a whir, then feels a tap-tap-tap at his back: a hummingbird, already returned, hoping for nectar from the orange of his vest. four grams. Emerald green. [From <a href="http://www.hummingbirdpoetry.org/books/her-animals-by-emily-johnston-2nd-ed" target="_blank">Her Animals</a> by Emily Johnston, a Washington State Book Award Finalist.] <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="HummingbirdonRedFlowerreuseWikipediaColibri-thalassinus-001-edit.jpg" class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/840834/large/HummingbirdonRedFlowerreuseWikipediaColibri-thalassinus-001-edit.jpg?1596745262" title="HummingbirdonRedFlowerreuseWikipediaColibri-thalassinus-001-edit.jpg"> <figcaption>Actual nectar!</figcaption> </figure> </div> rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) aminals Animals Birdeez Birdies Birds Cats Community Dogs ElenaCarlena EmilyJohnston ginger GingerCarlena holidaze HummingBirds Jan4Insight LuvLee MtStHelens NationalHolidays NationalTakeAHikeDay NorwayPass OpenThread Peeps PleaseFeelFreetoAddToTheseTags Poems Poetery Poetry pomes Pooties potery PWB PWBPeeps swampyankee takeahike triciawyse whimsical Whimsy Woozles _1996513 Wed, 18 Nov 2020 03:00:18 +0000 PWB Peeps: Toosdai Evening: Srs Not-Srs Poetry for Today, November 10, Illustrated! https://www.dailykos.com/story/2020/11/10/1994756/-PWB-Peeps-Toosdai-Evening-Srs-Not-Srs-Poetry-for-Today-November-10-Illustrated Welcome back to the odd and whimsical poetery of the Peeps related to holidaze! Let’s investigate <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/" target="_blank" title="">what today is</a>, because we need all the holidaze we can celebrate, right? Lately, every day seems to be many holidays! Which is good, because we all have our favorites. So I will pick out one or two, and you can click the link above if you’re curious about the rest. This is an Open Thread, so please feel free to add your favorite pomes and photoes and holidaze for today in the Comments! <h3 class="AlignCenter">Today is <a href="https://www.un.org/en/observances/world-science-day" target="_blank" title="">World Science Day for Peace and Development</a></h3> What a nifty day! Very much needed, IOHO (in our humble opinion — me and the pets, who are quite tired of crazy hoomin tricks, TYVM). Much more info at the link, but here is a snippet:  <blockquote> Celebrated every 10 November, World Science Day for Peace and Development highlights the significant role of science in society and the need to engage the wider public in debates on emerging scientific issues. It also underlines the importance and relevance of science in our daily lives. By linking science more closely with society, World Science Day for Peace and Development aims to ensure that citizens are kept informed of developments in science. It also underscores the role scientists play in broadening our understanding of the remarkable, fragile planet we call home and in making our societies more sustainable.  -snip-  To celebrate the 2020 World Science Day, UNESCO is organizing an online roundtable on the theme of “Science for and with Society in dealing with COVID-19.” Join the conversation with the hashtags #ScienceDay. </blockquote> <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="DogScientistMemereuseCheezburgeri-put-the-lab-in-laboratory.jpg" class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/881808/large/DogScientistMemereuseCheezburgeri-put-the-lab-in-laboratory.jpg?1605047229" title="DogScientistMemereuseCheezburgeri-put-the-lab-in-laboratory.jpg"> <figcaption>Woozle scientist helping understand our planet</figcaption> </figure> </div> <div style="text-align:start"> <div> <h4 class="AlignCenter">Sonnet— To Science</h4> by Edgar Allan Poe </div> <div>Science! true daughter of Old Time thou art!</div> <div> <div> <div>  Who alterest all things with thy peering eyes.</div> <div>Why preyest thou thus upon the poet’s heart,</div> <div>  Vulture, whose wings are dull realities?</div> <div>How should he love thee? or how deem thee wise,</div> <div>  Who wouldst not leave him in his wandering</div> <div>To seek for treasure in the jewelled skies,</div> <div>  Albeit he soared with an undaunted wing?</div> <div>Hast thou not dragged Diana from her car,</div> <div>  And driven the Hamadryad from the wood</div> <div>To seek a shelter in some happier star?</div> <div>  Hast thou not torn the Naiad from her flood,</div> <div>The Elfin from the green grass, and from me</div> <div>The summer dream beneath the tamarind tree? </div> <div>[I presume Poe needs no introduction! But you would likely find this and many other poems and stories <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Stories-Poems-Edgar-Allan/dp/0385074077" target="_blank" title="">here</a>.]</div> <div> <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="RhinoSleepingBeneathTreereusePixabaywhite-rhino-4707624_1280.jpg" class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/881807/large/RhinoSleepingBeneathTreereusePixabaywhite-rhino-4707624_1280.jpg?1605046864" title="RhinoSleepingBeneathTreereusePixabaywhite-rhino-4707624_1280.jpg"> <figcaption>Rhino dreaming beneath tree!</figcaption> </figure> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) aminals Animals Birdeez Birdies Birds Cats Community Dogs EdgarAllanPoe ElenaCarlena ginger GingerCarlena holidaze Jan4Insight LuvLee NationalHolidays OpenThread Peeps PleaseFeelFreetoAddToTheseTags Poems Poetery Poetry pomes Pooties potery PWB PWBPeeps Rhinoceros scienceday Sonnet-ToScience swampyankee triciawyse whimsical Whimsy Woozles WorldScienceDayForPeaceAndDevelopment _1994756 Wed, 11 Nov 2020 02:59:09 +0000 PWB Peeps: Toosdai Evening: It's Election Night!!!!! https://www.dailykos.com/story/2020/11/3/1992428/-PWB-Peeps-Toosdai-Evening-It-s-Election-Night Yes, Peeps, it’s Election Night and I can’t take my eyes off the screens!  So let’s make this a real Open Thread and everybody post their favorite memes!  Hey, that almost rhymes!  I’ll get back to real Poetery next time!  Hey, almost rhymed again!  OK, I’ll start:  <figure class="image-captioned width-xl align-left"><img alt="CatBlackDramaticMemereuseFlickr3059099609_c4abc59abb.jpg" class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/878412/large/CatBlackDramaticMemereuseFlickr3059099609_c4abc59abb.jpg?1604459486" title="CatBlackDramaticMemereuseFlickr3059099609_c4abc59abb.jpg"> <figcaption>But also looks calm and in control!</figcaption> </figure> <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="Free image/jpeg, Resolution: 709x564, File size: 71Kb, Funny Its Friday Meme" class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/878414/large/DogMemeNotFridayreusePixydotorg1135370.jpg?1604459598" title="Free image/jpeg, Resolution: 709x564, File size: 71Kb, Funny Its Friday Meme"> <figcaption>This is already THE longest week ever!</figcaption> </figure> </div> <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-md"><img alt="CatScreamGIFreuseTenortenor.gif" class="width-md" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/803329/large/CatScreamGIFreuseTenortenor.gif?1589096807" title="CatScreamGIFreuseTenortenor.gif"> <figcaption>Technically not a meme, but another scream!</figcaption> </figure> </div> OK, Peeps, have at it! Enjoy!  rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) Cats Community Dogs ElenaCarlena Memes OpenThread Peeps PleaseFeelFreetoAddToTheseTags Pooties PWB PWBPeeps Recommended Woozles _1992428 Wed, 04 Nov 2020 03:18:15 +0000 VOTE NOW IF YOU CAN https://www.dailykos.com/story/2020/11/3/1992328/-VOTE-NOW-IF-YOU-CAN This is just a quickie because I just came from our local polling station. Presumably yours will be similar. If you haven’t voted yet, go now if you can! There is NO line right now, just a slow trickle of individuals, smaller numbers of voters than volunteers staffing the place!  But they had a line this morning from 6 AM to 730 AM and then it went dead. They expect another line this evening from 5 PM until closing time. I talked with one of my sisters a little while ago, they arrived at their polling place exactly when the polls opened, there was already a line, and they had a 2-hour wait this morning!  So if you are waiting, trying not to take time off of work, don’t wait! If you can get away, go vote right now. It may make the difference between zero line and hours in line!  May the Vote be with You.  rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) Elections priority SaveTime Voting _1992328 Tue, 03 Nov 2020 20:40:58 +0000 This Week in the War on Women: Happy Halloween! And Election Edition 2. https://www.dailykos.com/story/2020/10/31/1991410/-This-Week-in-the-War-on-Women-Happy-Halloween-And-Election-Edition-2 Happy Halloween! The stories below are serious, but the titles are not-srs and in the spirit (so to speak!) of the holiday. Enjoy! <h3 class="AlignCenter">Ghosts of Politics Past or Ghosts of Politics Future?</h3> The GOP, of course, being the home of the ghosts of politics past. And with about 300,000 deaths from the coronavirus, they sure are scary! The Democrats are of course the home of the ghosts of politics future, as a new president and Congress must successfully combat the pandemic, climate change, income and wealth inequality, systemic racism, way-too-conservative courts, etc., etc. At least the pandemic and the GOP non-response have demonstrated the stark differences between parties, which will hopefully result in a landslide next week! But Tuesday is Election Day, so for those who haven’t voted yet,  let’s complete our review of the rest of the Senate candidates. <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/10/17/1987351/-This-Week-in-the-War-on-Women-10-11-17-2020-Elections-Edition-1" target="_blank" title="">We showcased a few of the races a couple weeks ago</a>, so if you didn’t memorize those and need info on Arizona, Delaware, Georgia’s special election, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky or Maine, please click on the link. I will be taking only short note of women’s issues because generally, the candidates are all the same — the GOP want to set us back to the only abortions occurring in back alleys or obtained only by wealthy women who can afford to travel; the Dems will at least protect as many rights as we’ve wrestled out of the system so far, and some would push them further. At any rate, if you live in a state with a contest, and if your vampires have not sucked all the time and energy out of you yet, please call the campaign and see if there is anything you can do to help in the home stretch, if you are able. Some of these races are deemed “safe” for the incumbent, but my philosophy is, “Take nothing for granted.” We took some things for granted in 2016 and as a result are worse off than ever. So not this time! For 3 more days, we purrsist! (Then we push our newly elected Democratic politician to work for women and minorities and the planet!) This “Ghosts” section is tl;dr for most, probably. Just check for your state and read that part, then skip on down to “Halloween Headlines”. <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="CatinSupermanCostumereuseFitnGit2.jpg" class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/874641/large/CatinSupermanCostumereuseFitnGit2.jpg?1603740873" title="CatinSupermanCostumereuseFitnGit2.jpg"> <figcaption>Democats to the rescue!</figcaption> </figure> </div> rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) Abortion Alabama Alaska Arkansas CulturalAppropriationinContemporaryNeopaganismandWitchcraft cyberstalking DeepFakes Elections Femicide Georgia GhostsOfPoliticsFuture GhostsOfPoliticsPast HalloweenHeadlines Illinois Indiana Louisiana Massachusetts MeganKing Michigan Minnesota Misogyny Mississippi Montana Nebraska Patriarchy Poland Pro-Choice Rescued RevengePorn RickyDaleHarringtonJr StMarysCollege ThisWeekintheWaronWomen TomCotton ViolenceAgainstWomen WomensHealth WomensRights WoW wow1 _1991410 Sun, 01 Nov 2020 00:00:07 +0000 VOTING: Have Multiple Plans! https://www.dailykos.com/story/2020/10/30/1991082/-VOTING-Have-Multiple-Plans Please purrsist and help others like you have never purrsisted and helped before!  I went to early vote at my usual polling place. It was not open.  I went to early vote at the nearest polling place that was open. It was supposed to open at 10 AM, I was there at 1005. They had just decided not to open until noon.  I went back to early vote at the same place, as there were very few people around when they were not open. Now that they are open, the line rings the entire large parking lot! Most were wearing masks, but there was no social distancing. I asked people in line: The line is barely moving, they’ve been standing there for hours. I can’t stand for hours. It’s also very cold today. There was also no place left to park. And I have a Mom and critters depending on me. Since it’s now Friday afternoon, they’re likely to be busy all weekend, and they aren’t open Monday, I gave up on early in-person voting.  So I went to the county board of elections to pick up absentee ballots for myself and my mother. I had the wrong address!  In looking more closely at the website, I need to have Mom sign an absentee ballot request with me as her designated picker upper and delivererer. I was able to successfully download that request and transfer it to a thumb drive.  Since I no longer have a printer, I needed to go print that out at the library.  During the pandemic, the library requires an appointment. They had one for today. I successfully drove with my thumb drive to the library, used their hand sanitizer, passed my security check, and printed out the request. I eventually figured out how to safely eject my thumb drive (computers had signs — no technical help is available during the pandemic)! Now Mom has to fill out the request and I still have to find the board of elections at the correct address on Monday. They say they will provide absentee ballots through Monday November 2. They can be turned in up to Election Day at any polling location that day. But just in case, I’m thinking now that I might go back to try to vote early in person after all, if I can get there early tomorrow or Sunday morning! This weekend, they open at 8 AM. Of course, I won’t be surprised if many others have the same idea! But it’s worth a shot, in case anything goes wrong on Monday. I can take a chair and something hot to drink in a Thermos, but how long I can stay will depend on how Mom and Ginger are doing tomorrow and/or Sunday. It’s a day by day thing.  This would be a funny comedy of errors if it didn’t mean that some folks might be discouraged from voting. So remember! You want to ensure you are allowed to vote. Be prepared to try more than one method! For the kittens. The best laid plans… gang aft a-gley.  rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) Democrats Election ForTheKittens Kittens PlanAhead Pooties TheBestLaidPlansGangAftAgley Voting _1991082 Fri, 30 Oct 2020 21:19:58 +0000 PWB Peeps: Toosdai Evening: Srs Not-Srs Poetry for Today, October 27, Illustrated! https://www.dailykos.com/story/2020/10/27/1990026/-PWB-Peeps-Toosdai-Evening-Srs-Not-Srs-Poetry-for-Today-October-27-Illustrated Welcome back to the odd and whimsical poetery of the Peeps related to holidaze! Let’s investigate <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/" target="_blank" title="">what today is</a>, because we need all the holidaze we can celebrate, right? Lately, every day seems to be many holidays! Which is good, because we all have our favorites. So I will pick out one or two, and you can click the link above if you’re curious about the rest. This is an Open Thread, so please feel free to add your favorite pomes and photoes and holidaze for today in the Comments!  <h3 class="AlignCenter">Today is Cranky Co-Workers Day</h3> <blockquote> <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/4dee514cb35f5fda55d573b605eac321/cranky-co-workers-day" target="_blank">Cranky Co-Workers Day is a day in honor of co-workers that complain and are cranky all year long</a>. It is a day when everyone lets them continue complaining and being cranky, instead of trying to cheer them up. Maybe just days ago they got slapped on <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/22157a7c4b5732ca3a7bcd1afed21ea6/national-slap-your-irritating-co-worker-day">National Slap Your Irritating Co-Worker Day</a>, but today they are to be left alone. The day was created by Ruth and Thomas Roy of Wellcat Holidays. <h3>How to Observe</h3> Celebrate the day by letting your co-workers be as cranky as they want! Don't try to cheer them up at all, and let them wallow in their normal crankiness! Celebrate who they are and that there is really no way you can ultimately change them. </blockquote> <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="Image by <a data-cke-saved-href="https://pixabay.com/users/monicore-1499084/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=4425802" href="https://pixabay.com/users/monicore-1499084/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=4425802">monicore</a> from <a data-cke-saved-href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=4425802" href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=4425802">Pixabay</a>" class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/875118/large/CatGrumpyreusePixabaycat-4425802_1920.jpg?1603848876" title="Image by <a data-cke-saved-href="https://pixabay.com/users/monicore-1499084/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=4425802" href="https://pixabay.com/users/monicore-1499084/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=4425802">monicore</a> from <a data-cke-saved-href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=4425802" href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=4425802">Pixabay</a>"> <figcaption>“Don’t talk to me.”</figcaption> </figure> </div> <h3 class="AlignCenter"><a href="https://allpoetry.com/poems/about/cranky" target="_blank">A Growlery</a></h3> by MiladyMar she needed it it was hers alone to sit and mope on dreadful days when sour music plays creating grumpy waves relentless onslaught inner turmoils boil mind fueled to max grumbling and cranky leave me alone need time to restore room of rooms staged just for me my growlery [MiladyMar has published two books of poetry available to order online, A Treasured Collection of Literary Works, <a href="https://books.google.com/books/about/A_Treasured_Collection_of_Literary_Works.html?id=OIrP6Yun9JYC" target="_blank" title="">Edition 1</a> and <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=c_uM_iRtrgcC" target="_blank">Edition 2</a>. <a href="https://allpoetry.com/MiladyMar" target="_blank">She is also a great-grandmother</a>!] <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-md"><img alt="DogGrowlingLittlereuseNeedpixdownload.jpg" class="width-md" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/875121/large/DogGrowlingLittlereuseNeedpixdownload.jpg?1603849169" title="DogGrowlingLittlereuseNeedpixdownload.jpg"> <figcaption>A furrocious growler</figcaption> </figure> </div> rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) AGrowlery aminals Animals Birdeez Birdies Birds Cats Community cranky CrankyCoWorkersDay Dogs ElenaCarlena GingerCarlena holidaze Jan4Insight LuvLee MiladyMar NationalHolidays OpenThread Peeps PleaseFeelFreetoAddToTheseTags Poems Poetery Poetry pomes Pooties potery PWB PWBPeeps swampyankee triciawyse whimsical Whimsy Woozles _1990026 Wed, 28 Oct 2020 02:00:08 +0000 PWB Peeps: Toosdai Evening: Srs Not-Srs Poetry for Today, October 20, Illustrated! https://www.dailykos.com/story/2020/10/20/1988042/-PWB-Peeps-Toosdai-Evening-Srs-Not-Srs-Poetry-for-Today-October-20-Illustrated We’re ba-a-ack! Welcome back to the odd and whimsical poetery of the Peeps related to holidaze! Let’s investigate <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/" target="_blank">what today is</a>, because we need all the holidaze we can celebrate, right? Lately, every day seems to be many holidays! Which is good, because we all have our favorites. So I will pick out one or two, and you can click the link above if you’re curious about the rest. This is an Open Thread, so please feel free to add your favorite pomes and photoes and holidaze for today in the Comments!  <h3 class="AlignCenter">Today is Information Overload Awareness Day</h3> Since I have been quite overloaded lately, I chose this one to share! <blockquote> Some ways the day can be observed include: <ul> <li>Work to cut your email output by ten or twenty percent. Avoid "reply to all," forwards, and any emails that aren't necessary. Unsubscribe to email lists. Don't send a text or call someone to ask them if they received your email right after you email them.</li> <li>Move to a place free of distractions to do your work.</li> <li>Cut out multitasking, and focus on one thing at a time.</li> <li>If possible, completely disconnect for the day.</li> <li>Learn more about the <a href="https://iorgforum.org/" target="_blank">Information Overload Research Group</a>.</li> <li>Read Jonathan Spira's book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0470879602?tag=checkiday08-20" target="_blank">Overload!: How Too Much Information Is Hazardous To Your Organization</a>.</li> </ul> </blockquote> [Much more information, if not TMI, at the <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/c38c6fa07f92e5ab64fa79b89511da7e/information-overload-awareness-day" target="_blank">link</a>! And note that I believe in multitasking. I think trying to cut that back is a guy thing!]  <h4 class="AlignCenter"><a href="https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/information-overload-2/" target="_blank">Information Overload</a></h4> by Lawrence S. Pertillar <div> Many suffer from, Information overload. And nothing can be done, By information overload. Too many getting numb, With information overload. And not overcoming, That information overload... Can be, Impossible to see achieved.  -snip- With many running away... From wanting purpose. And many running away... From honesty! And many running away... From keeping focus. And many, Are running away... From peace believed. To wish it could be possible. Eye contact is... Impossible to have it achieved. An understanding is... Impossible to have it achieved. People sincere is... Impossible to have it achieved! Because we're overloaded, With too much information.  [Lawrence S. Pertillar is a poet, actor, playwright, and performance artist. He was named “One of America’s Most Distinguished Poets” by The International Society of Poets; and cited by the U. S. Senate for “poetic accomplishments and writing achievements”. See more bio at the <a href="https://www.poemhunter.com/lawrence-s-pertillar/biography/" target="_blank">link</a>!]  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="DogoutofComputerreusePixnio2017-03-08-18-11-24.jpg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/871941/large/DogoutofComputerreusePixnio2017-03-08-18-11-24.jpg?1603243648" title="DogoutofComputerreusePixnio2017-03-08-18-11-24.jpg"> <figcaption>If you’re seeing critters coming out of your computer, maybe it’s time to step away for a bit!</figcaption> </figure> </div> </div> rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) aminals Animals Birdeez Birdies Birds Cats Chocolate Community Dogs Ekphrastic ElenaCarlena GeraldEGreene holidaze InformationOverload InformationOverloadAwarenessDay Jan4Insight LawrenceSPertillar LuvLee NationalHolidays OfficeChocolateDay OpenThread Peeps PleaseFeelFreetoAddToTheseTags Poems Poetery Poetry pomes Pooties potery PWB PWBPeeps StrawberryWreath swampyankee triciawyse whimsical Whimsy Woozles _1988042 Wed, 21 Oct 2020 02:08:54 +0000 Ginger is the Bestest Pootie in the Entire Universe https://www.dailykos.com/story/2020/10/18/1987560/-Ginger-is-the-Bestest-Pootie-in-the-Entire-Universe You probably think your pootie is the bestest in the entire universe. You’re wrong, but that’s OK, you should go on thinking that. Ginger is VERY sick. She deserves her own memorial diary here, but if the worst happens I will be curled up in the corner and catatonic (not quite literally, I’ll still have to take care of Mom, but I wouldn’t be able to be coherent on this subject), so I have been writing this all week and need to share this now. <h2 class="AlignCenter">In Sickness (A Series of Ups and Downs)</h2> Many of you already know part of this story, but to catch everyone up: Early morning last Sunday, Ginger had two apparent seizures. We went to the ER vet. Her vitals (other than BP, which they didn’t think was necessary to check) were fine and she had recovered by the time we arrived. They watched her for an hour but she had no more problems. They couldn’t do their one noninvasive neuro test, which is pupil size and reactivity, because she has been blind for a year or two due to cataracts. So they sent her home, to follow up with our own vet on Monday. They detected a slight heart murmur, but she has had that for years. Monday, she still seemed fine. The vet checked her again, found nothing other than the slight heart murmur. She was alert and friendly with him. He did take her BP and it was low normal, optimal under the circumstances. He also drew blood for a complete panel of tests, results to come back Tuesday. She wandered restlessly when we first came home from the vet. She next spent quite a bit of time under the dresser sleeping on her catnip-filled pootie pad that she always finds comforting (bless you, Sara and Ann!). After a few hours, she had forgiven me and was back to preferring my lap. Tuesday morning, she had another seizure! And it lasted about 5 minutes — that is a very bad sign! I called and received an immediate appointment. Like, as soon as we could get there immediate, which was about 15 minutes from my phone call to their exam room. They did x-rays. She has an enlarged heart and surrounding fluid. No other problems were visible on x-ray. She was still walking in circles on arrival to the vet this time, as well as kind of out of it. They suspected a brain tumor. And clots from her heart problems causing mini-strokes. But it could also be an infection. Lab tests were back, and the major finding was elevated globulins, which they said can be indicative of either cancer or infection. Also, her kidney values were elevated relative to her previous lab tests in the past; still within normal range, but it can make some medications dangerous for her. So they gave her shots of antibiotic and anti-seizure meds; and we were sent home with pills, to crush and mix with her food starting later the same day: Phenobarbital as an anti-seizure med; Lasix, a diuretic, for the fluid around her heart; Plavix, a blood thinner, to dissolve any small clots. They warned she will be groggy on Phenobarbital, but should “get used to it” and act more normally in 4-7 days. Tuesday night, she had several of what now look more like mini-strokes and less like seizures: For a minute or less, she’d seize up in one leg and fall over and yell, then circle around until she gets to her water and drinks. Then she’d climb back onto my lap and go to sleep as if nothing is wrong — even purring when I rub her face! Then an hour or two later, she would have the same problem again. I emailed her vet the details so they’d have them Wednesday. Wednesday, I called her vet in the morning and asked for Ginger’s vet to call me. Instead, her staff returned my call and said the vet thought she should come right in. So we went to the vet again! Thankfully, Ginger is one of the few cats I’ve ever had who likes everybody and enjoys going to the vet! She loves all the “Ooh, you’re so cute”s and attention from more people and extra petting. So at least that part isn’t hard on her at all. As long as there are no blood draws nor rectal temperature checks! (Her vets use an ear thermometer, which she finds itchy apparently but otherwise much preferred.) She has mostly seemed completely fine at the vet Wednesday! She walked around the room like a champ, no circling, no unsteadiness, no hesitancy. Yes, she’s blind and in an unfamiliar space, but she just walked along the wall letting her whiskers show her the turns. But her cardiac enzymes had come back and they were extremely elevated. So they thought for complete information, she needed an EKG and echocardiogram and serial blood pressures. So she stayed at the vet all day. She continued to do fine, socialized with the staff, napped curled comfortably upside down on her blanket. I picked her up that evening.  Echo showed a very enlarged heart (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) and an enlarged aorta, with what was described to me as blood “swirling” inside. Enalapril and Vetmedin were added to her medications: Vetmedin treats heart failure, it was described to me, by helping the heart pump more strongly with less strain. Some studies have shown that it can extend life by at least a year. Enalapril lowers blood pressure. Although hers was already pretty good, they want it to be a bit lower. Less BP means less resistance to the heart pumping blood.  Given her likely age of 16-20 (adopted as a young abandoned adult) and her multiple medical problems, if she does have brain cancer they do not recommend treating it. X-rays showed no signs of cancer elsewhere in her body. It would take a CAT scan (heh) or MRI to see what’s happening in her brain and we would have to go out of town for that, but they do not recommend it. It would determine diagnosis, but make no difference in treatment. However, in a bit of good news, given the cardiac issues, they now think that they are entirely the cause of the seizures, brought on by mini-strokes or TIAs, brought on by the heart throwing clots. So they think if we can successfully treat the heart problems, she stands a chance.  Thursday-today, she has had good times and bad times. She gets very sleepy and weak about an hour after her medications. Then she seems to somewhat sleep it off and acts more like her old self. She continues to purr a lot when on my lap and getting her face petted. She does not seem to want to eat or drink much, though. She hovers over her food, but her intake is poor. I have been syringe feeding her once an hour when I’m awake. It’s a bit of a fight, but that seems to have helped her energy level. I’ve also cut her Enalapril dosage in half on instructions from her doctor. If she lasts long enough, they say that she will get used to the effect from the Phenobarbital.  I’m struggling to take my own usual advice in these situations, don’t borrow trouble, hope for the best. It’s certainly been up and down, which has also been my experience with other elderly cats. Right now, it seems like she’s doing fairly well, so I’m going to post this diary whilst I still have hope. We are not ready to say goodbye yet. She’s been on my lap most of the last 15 years. But realistically, I know what advanced age and multiple medical problems usually mean. She has been the other half of my brain, I’m not sure how we will function without her. Sigh.  <h2 class="AlignCenter">And In Health</h2> Now the fun part, chronicling Ginger’s life and some notes on the other pooties as their lives intersected with hers. With photos of course! Much of the action took place before cellphone cameras and connections to the computer were a thing, so old photos are very limited. But I’ll share what I can! She and her “brother” Eeyore first came to me from my cat sitter in Lexington, KY. They had belonged to her neighbor, who moved and left the cats outside to fend for themselves. Evil people, but they never knew the joy of those they gave up, so that’s its own punishment. My sitter already had too many aminals so tried to leave them outside as strays for someone else to care for — maybe new people would move in and take them in. But over time, not only did no one new move in, but she could see both cats getting skinny. Poor domesticated critters didn’t know how to catch enough food apparently! So she took them in, fed them, and found out about Eeyore’s obsession with water probably because they’d been thirsty as well as hungry! Meanwhile, I was fighting for the life of Miss Molly, who at age 16 ended up dying from congestive heart failure and possibly undiagnosed complications. This is Ginger’s story so I won’t go into details here. Maybe I’ll write another whole diary about the beauteous Miss Molly (they all break our hearts in the end, don’t they?). I had two other cats at the time, Oreo and Jazz, and after losing Miss Molly, felt like I had enough pooties. But my cat sitter strongly felt like I really needed two more — after all, she was in violation of her lease for having so many cats. Ginger and Eeyore were relatively shy cats so might get along with mine, who were also relatively shy, she thought. So after a little more arm twisting, I said OK! I have never been so happy about making a bad decision. They each cost a lot of money in their turn, but who needs retirement funds or vacations anyway? And we had a lot of fun years as a family of five! <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="Eeyore_and_Ginger.jpg" class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/398148/large/Eeyore_and_Ginger.jpg?1494185848" title="Eeyore_and_Ginger.jpg"> <figcaption>Ginger and Eeyore in their new home back in the day</figcaption> </figure> </div> Oreo loves every other cat, so after a few fist bumps with Eeyore to establish who was boss (neither of them really!), they settled right in. Jazz was a scaredy-cat with other cats. Oddly, she was fine with all kinds of people whilst Oreo is a total scaredy-cat with other people. Jazz and Eeyore wouldn’t get along for years. Eeyore was a hoot though, so needs a side note. He had an obsession with water all his life — maybe because having been abandoned outside, he couldn’t get enough? He drank and drank, and swamped litter boxes! I finally got him his own pet fountain, placed it on a fuzzy bathmat with a rubber bottom in case of leaks, and he spent most of his days lying on the mat next to the fountain and as close as he could get, watching it run! But he stopped drinking himself to death. Another favorite place of his was the bathroom sink; he’d curl up in it and sleep for a little while before going back to his fountain. I found a little Japanese-style “mood” fountain and set that up on the corner of the bathroom sink countertop. Oh, he was in heaven! He could curl up in the sink and watch water flow at the same time without getting wet (not that he cared about a little dampness)! He also would try out any semi-enclosed space for napping comfort. He was particularly interested in my desk’s file drawers whilst I was working, sitting in there watching me type. And whatever silly crazy thing he would do, he always had that long face and dour expression! Meanwhile, Ginger has this thing she does fearlessly to introduce herself to new cats: She’s only a healthy 4 pounds because she’s a runt. So she walks right up to strange cats and chucks them under the chin with the top of her head! Oreo was promptly charmed. Jazz drew back and hissed at her and Ginger would leave for a few minutes, then come back and walk underneath her head again! After a couple days, Jazz and Ginger were good buddies. Works every time! <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="Oreo_kisses_his_best_friend_20160503.jpg" class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/342701/large/Oreo_kisses_his_best_friend_20160503.jpg?1482613277" title="Oreo_kisses_his_best_friend_20160503.jpg"> <figcaption>They are not on a slope; she really is about this much shorter than most other cats! Even stretching up a bit to receive kittie kissez from Oreo.</figcaption> </figure> </div> Even later, when I adopted a dog (Rocky), Ginger saw no reason to treat him any differently. So she did her little chin chuck. As a puppy, he drew back startled at first, then immediately perked up and told himself, “This could be fun,” and they played together throughout his puppyhood. I was a little concerned at first when he’d chase her, but when she turned around and chased him, I knew it’d be OK. Welp, there was one time when the chin chuck dramatically didn’t work. When we moved here to upstate New York to help out Mom and Dad, Ginger tried her usual move with their pootie, Pawlette. And Pawlette attacked her with destructive intent! I’ve never seen Ginger run so fast! I live upstairs in Mom-and-Dad’s house. We had installed a screen door at the top of the stairs so my pets would stay in their own area; my parents knew Pawlette was not good with other aminals; they had originally had two pooties and they barely tolerated each other. When we first moved in, Pawlette would climb to the top of the stairs and howl in prime fight mode at my pets from the other side of the screen door. Rocky and Oreo would stay far away from the screen door. Ginger would walk right up to the door and stare at her through the screen, sometimes with her head tilted like “What is your problem?”. Sometimes Ginger would chatter at Pawlette like Pawlette was a squirrel. After a while, Pawlette seemed to calm down, so we cautiously let Ginger out to see if they’d make friends. Then the Big Chase ensued! So I pulled the screen door open to let Ginger back upstairs. Fortunately, Pawlette was heavy and slow, so Ginger made it back upstairs with plenty of time to spare, whilst Pawlette had to stay on the other side. Back she went to howling! My parents never wanted to try reintroducing Ginger to Pawlette again. Since I didn’t have the money for vet visits if it went sideways, I had to agree. But I really think a few more chin chucks and Pawlette would have accepted Ginger just like Jazz did! But we’ll never know. Pawlette passed away this summer, from kidney disease IIRC; she was about 18 I think. Lordy, I hate 2020. Pawlette was great with both of my parents, now Mom has no one to sleep with (she doesn’t want Ginger maybe having an accident in her bed). Sigh again. <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="IMG_0171.jpg" class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/646803/large/IMG_0171.jpg?1550850505" title="IMG_0171.jpg"> <figcaption>Pawlette totally “obeying house rules and not jumping into the kitchen sink” — I mentioned to my parents that most nights when I came downstairs, she was in the sink, and they told me “No she can’t be, she knows not to do that, we don’t allow that.” OK…. </figcaption> </figure> </div> But back to the Lexington years: Once Ginger made friends with everybody, she then gradually brought Eeyore and Jazz together! Jazz would hiss, Eeyore would back off with his feelings wounded, Ginger would snuggle up with him. Or Eeyore would chase Jazz, she would be scared into hiding, Ginger would go behind the furniture or in the cat cave with her and snuggle up with her. As Eeyore gradually learned to leave Jazz alone, Jazz gradually came out from her hidey holes and joined us. On the couch or in the bed, all five of us loved to snuggle up together. At first Ginger positioned herself between Eeyore and Jazz, but eventually it was unnecessary. There was even the day that Eeyore and Jazz snuggled up together! I didn’t mark it on the calendar, but this probably took about 5 years. Ginger didn’t give up until mission accomplished. Nevertheless, she purrsisted! There was the incident of the Little Big Storm. Lexington is right in tornado alley, and the clouds sometimes looked downright scary. Weird light, you could almost feel the low pressure system, I often searched the clouds for funnel formation. Saw a few wedges, but never any swirling. We lived in a townhouse on the edge of a big empty yard, so the view from our upstairs bedroom window, just past the line of Bradford pear trees marking the boundary, was of a lot of sky. <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="IMG_20170308_145013.jpg" class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/377683/large/IMG_20170308_145013.jpg?1489592483" title="IMG_20170308_145013.jpg"> <figcaption>The sky next door on a nice spring day in Lexington, looking past the Bradford pears</figcaption> </figure> </div> Well, one day tornadoes and destructive thunderstorms were forecast. The sky was that weird shade of dark, almost green. And one single cloud loomed toward us from right over the churchyard. It looked like it might form a funnel, but more importantly at that moment, it was letting out lightning that struck the next-door yard more than once! Accompanied by very loud BOOMS. Well, Ginger jumped up on the edge of the bed, faced the window in a bulldog stance I have never seen from her before or since, elbows out belligerently, and scolded that storm! It tamed to a grumble. She kept up the scolding until it passed by our window, over our roof, and went away! <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="BulldogStancereuseDreamstimedotcomJackieblue.jpg" class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/869169/large/BulldogStancereuseDreamstimedotcomJackieblue.jpg?1602641868" title="BulldogStancereuseDreamstimedotcomJackieblue.jpg"> <figcaption>This was Ginger’s stance facing the too-close thunderstorm!</figcaption> </figure> </div> The incident reminded me very much of the video below. Except: The cloud wasn’t swirling. Ginger’s chittering is much more pleasant. And she was scolding, not praying! It sounded very much like she was saying, “Go away from us, storm cloud!”. Until it went past the window, over the roof, into the parking lot and away from us. If I’d had the equipment and presence of mind to film that encounter, it would have made an excellent parody of this!:  <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content">x</div> <a class="iframe_placeholder youtube dk-embed" href="//youtube.com/watch?v=DzB7j97kZMI" title="" data-frameborder="0" data-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DzB7j97kZMI">YouTube Video</a></div> She has been a miracle worker, has our Ginger! The storm chitterer.  She has of course been a nursemaid when anyone else was sick. She snuggled with each of the other pooties in turn when their times came, when she was able (some went to the vet). She snuggled with me, sick or well. She took the prime position on my shoulders or under my chin (I usually sleep on my side). This would usually be after walking on my back the way a proper meowsseuse does. Ahh…. So relaxing! She and Oreo were the only pooties left when I went into diabetic crisis and had to go to the hospital after I moved in with Mom and Dad. My parents couldn’t navigate the stairs very well, but they kept my pets going with food and water and litter box and puppy pad changes. But for the 3 weeks I was in the hospital, most of the time the pooties were by themselves with Rocky. As soon as I came home, though, Ginger was the first to jump up on the bed and settle down with me. Now here’s the really miraculous thing about Ginger as a healer: She can tell when Oreo is in diabetic crisis! Twice in the same very bad summer a few years back, he was actually getting better — not diabetic anymore — and so his insulin injections were too much! His blood sugar bottomed out whilst I was sleeping. And Ginger woke me both times! She scolded and pawed at me, which is not all that unusual when she decides it’s time for food or fun or what have you. Because of that, the first time I ignored her. And she actually took my wrist in her mouth and bit down until I woke up and then pulled! So I followed her to see what was up, and Oreo was in the bathroom wandering around like he didn’t know where he was. It was weekday daytime (unusual time for the cats to get sick!) so we were able to take him right in and they gave him sugar. The second time, I was prepared, I got up as soon as Ginger pawed at me, and gave him sugar myself. He was fine after a short recovery period both times. But the vet said he would have died without help! Ginger has saved his life twice! He has been better and stable for a long time now; and he has been off insulin, his sugar staying stable on a low-carb diet. But I won’t sleep quite as soundly if Ginger is no longer helping monitor him!  There was another incident where someone started cutting down all those trees bordering our property and she got me up then too. It turned out they were cutting on the wrong side, they were supposed to leave our trees alone! Had Ginger not wakened me and insisted I get up, all the trees would have been gone by the time I looked out the window. I heard chainsaws, but thought it was lawn mowers so paid no attention. So of course now I get up when she wants me to, and make sure everything is all right. Of course, Ginger is still a pootie, albeit of the highest intelligence. So now that she knows she can get me up, she often takes advantage for an early morning snack. But it has been worth the trouble to know that our pets and our house and property are OK! Ginger has always been on duty! <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="Ginger_get_up_sunny_IMG_20161219_111921_1_.jpg" class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/605360/large/Ginger_get_up_sunny_IMG_20161219_111921_1_.jpg?1540870223" title="Ginger_get_up_sunny_IMG_20161219_111921_1_.jpg"> <figcaption>“That’s the morning sun behind me. Geddup!” (taken using my tablet whilst I was lying flat on my back)</figcaption> </figure> </div> Finally, Ginger has one more amazing, if minor, psychic power (she may have others that I’ve temporarily forgotten, as well): She finds what I’ve lost! She did this in Lexington many times. She’s even done this here at Mom-and-Dad’s house, after she went blind! I can’t entirely explain this. She can’t possibly understand all the English I use, I haven’t trained her like Koko in the Cat Who books. The closest I’ve come to explaining it is that she must know when something is out of place and it bothers her, even though I am generally messy and things are often out of place! And it doesn’t explain this old incident: I was looking for the newspaper because I wanted to go see a movie and wanted to look through the listings (yes, it’s that old!). So I said to her, “I can’t find the newspaper, what did I do with the newspaper?” She went right over and stood on top of a newspaper. I picked it up but it was Saturday’s (this was on a Saturday). I said, “No, not that one. I need the Friday newspaper, the one with the movie listings”. After a moment of nosing around, she drew my attention to a second newspaper — and it was Friday’s! (I probably had about a week’s worth of newspapers lying around.) Then approximately a few months ago (so at least a year since she’d gone blind), I was looking all over for my computer mouse. I asked her where it was, but she didn’t seem to be cooperating. She was just lying on the arm of the chair above the trash basket, pointing her face at the basket. I looked everywhere that made sense (I usually kept the mouse on the opposite side of that chair). Then finally because she seemed to be trying to make a point, I emptied the trash basket. And yes, there was my mouse! It had fallen inside! She is truly a miracle worker!  Now IMO, Ginger’s illness should change nothing about the Pootie Party Primary. Any purrsident worth his or her salt would surround herself with expurrts who would do the real work. We need a smart, compassionate purrsident who just needs to be able to direct things with the help of all her able assistants. Ginger still purrmotes two chickens in every garage and a catnip for every pot! A vote for Ginger is a vote for Hope and Brains! I know Ginger is fighting for good health as hard as she can, fighting her aging body, knowing that we still badly need her and wanting to be with us. And I know she’ll win if winning is possible. But I just don’t know if winning is possible or for how long. For some reason, Ginger singing this song from Evita keeps popping into my head: <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content">x</div> <a class="iframe_placeholder youtube dk-embed" href="//youtube.com/watch?v=lTLq2bIrndU" title="" data-frameborder="0" data-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lTLq2bIrndU">YouTube Video</a></div> <blockquote> <div style="text-align:left">Where do we go from here? This isn't where we intended to be We had it all You believed in me, I believed in you Certainties disappear What do we do for our dream to survive? How do we keep all our passions alive As we used to do?</div> <div style="text-align:left"></div> <div style="text-align:left">Deep in my heart, I'm concealing Things that I'm longing to say Scared to confess what I'm feeling Frightened you'll slip away You must love me, you must love me You must love me</div> <div style="text-align:left"></div> <div style="text-align:left">Why are you at my side? How can I be any use to you now? Give me a chance, and I'll let you see how Nothing has changed</div> <div style="text-align:left"></div> <div style="text-align:left">Deep in my heart, I'm concealing Things that I'm longing to say Scared to confess what I'm feeling Frightened you'll slip away You must love me, you must love me You must love me</div> </blockquote> We do love you, Ginger sweetie. We’re hoping all this medicating and syringing will soon help you get to a new level of relatively healthy stability. Get plenty of rest. It’s our turn now to do everything we can to nurse you back to health. Please pray for us, fellow Peeps. We still need this little miraculous ball of fur.  It’s fine if it’s tl;dr. It’s helping keep my memories alive.  rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) Cats ElenaCarlena ginger Pooties Recommended _1987560 Sun, 18 Oct 2020 20:27:41 +0000 This Week in the War on Women, 10/11-17/2020: Elections Edition 1 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2020/10/17/1987351/-This-Week-in-the-War-on-Women-10-11-17-2020-Elections-Edition-1 The election is now two weeks from this coming Tuesday! Sooner if you have early voting in your state. $Rump and his Senatorial minions have made it all too clear that we need BIG change in both the White House and Senate, to reverse everything $Rump has done and at the same time progress forward from there.  You know who to vote for, for President and Vice President. So let’s look at the Senate. <a href="https://www.270towin.com/2020-senate-election/" target="_blank">T</a><a href="https://www.270towin.com/2020-senate-election/" target="_blank">here are 35 seats in the US Senate up for grabs in the 2020 election</a>. Of these, 23 are currently held by Republicans. We need to take those seats and hold onto the 12 we have. Of course, with the Reptublicans misogynist and the Democrats supportive of women’s rights, and the Senate the gatekeeper to the courts, all races are of vital interest to women. But let’s review some of the races with women in them. Unfortunately, there are several women Reptublican Senators. These women are not our friends; in their races, you may feel a need to vote for the guy! The below will alert you to some races where you might want to donate or volunteer for the remaining 2 weeks. There are many issues we can examine, but to see where they stand on women’s issues, female Reptublican candidates were Googled regarding abortion. Surely if they break with their party, it will be over abortion, right? ;-)  We’ll review more of these races in future weeks.  Arizona: Martha McSally, R incumbent. Mark Kelly, D challenger. Of course, I love him because he is known as Gabby Giffords’ husband! Big issue for him, then, is gun control. McSally has said she is “pro-life” with three exceptions, rape, incest, and life of the mother. <a href="https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/laurieroberts/2019/05/16/martha-mcsally-alabama-abortion-bill-dodge/3699342002/" target="_blank">www.azcentral.com/</a>… More about their race here, <a href="https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/10/15/mark-kelly-widens-lead-over-martha-mcsally-post-debate-senate-poll/3659955001/" target="_blank">www.azcentral.com/</a>…  Delaware: Chris Coons, D incumbent. Lauren Witzke, R challenger. He is considered safely re-electable, but you never know. Witzke is “extremely pro-life” and anti-Ruth Bader Ginsburg. <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/gop-senate-candidate-defends-controversial-ginsburg-abortion-meme/" target="_blank">www.timesofisrael.com/</a>… Sigh. You might want to throw a few bucks at Coons just for that!  Georgia: Kelly Loeffler, R appointed. 20-candidate special election. Rev. Raphael Warnock leading Dems, top 2 runoff in January, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2020-election-senate-races/georgia.html" target="_blank">www.bloomberg.com/</a>… Rev. Warnock is pro-choice:  <blockquote> The pastor responded to Bryant’s question by declaring that he believes that health care is a “human right” and “something that the richest nation in the world provides for its citizens.” “[A]nd for me, reproductive justice is consistent with my commitment to that,” he stated. “I believe unequivocally in a woman’s right to choose.” Warnock argued that a woman’s decision to have an abortion as “something that we don’t want government engaged in,” adding that such a decision is “between her and her doctor and her minister.”  </blockquote> More details at <a href="https://www.christianpost.com/news/pastor-running-for-senate-abortion-rights-are-consistent-with-my-beliefs-as-a-minister.html" target="_blank">www.christianpost.com/</a>…  Idaho: Jim Risch, R; Paulette Jordan, D. <a href="https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2020/oct/05/us-sen-jim-risch-faces-three-challengers-in-novemb/" target="_blank">www.spokesman.com/</a>… You know who to root for.  Iowa — Joni Ernst, R incumbent; Theresa Greenfield, D challenger. <a href="https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/21514231/joni-ernst-theresa-greenfield-iowa-senate-race-explained" target="_blank">www.vox.com/</a>… Ernst is “protecting life,” <a href="https://www.ernst.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/protecting-life" target="_blank">www.ernst.senate.gov/</a>…  Kansas: Pat Roberts, R incumbent is not running for reelection, but was predicted to be replaced by another R. Now the race has become competitive! Barbara Bollier, D challenger, is looking promising. <a href="https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/10/kansas-senate-could-barbara-bollier-win.html" target="_blank">slate.com/</a>…  Kentucky: You could reasonably argue that Mitch McConnell, Senate majority leader, is King of the Reptublicans even over $Rump, as he continues to save $Rump’s rump and all his ilk from consequences. Hopefully Kentuckians are finally as tired of him as they are of the pandemic. His challenger, Amy McGrath, is a moderate and war hero, so this year has a shot.  Maine: Susan Collins, R incumbent is famously concerned, amongst other reasons, because Sarah Gideon, D challenger, may actually beat her. <a href="https://www.economist.com/united-states/2020/10/17/maines-senate-race-and-the-extinction-of-new-england-republicanism" target="_blank">www.economist.com/</a>… Collins has weakly supported abortion rights, including confirming Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Ms. Gideon is attacking her on exactly these issues. <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/29/politics/sara-gideon-susan-collins-abortion-brett-kavanaugh/index.html" target="_blank">www.cnn.com/</a>…  More next time! Meanwhile, please check with your state if it’s not listed here and find out more about your Senate candidates! Be sure you’re registered to vote, and consider voting early in person! If you are at risk, request an absentee ballot and drop it off before Election Day.  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="KamalaandBidenreuseKosonlyGettyImages1200-Kamala-Biden-VP-real-estate-record-705x439.jpg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/850030/large/KamalaandBidenreuseKosonlyGettyImages1200-Kamala-Biden-VP-real-estate-record-705x439.jpg?1598735894" title="KamalaandBidenreuseKosonlyGettyImages1200-Kamala-Biden-VP-real-estate-record-705x439.jpg"> <figcaption>There’s a lot to do. They’re going to need help!</figcaption> </figure> </div> rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) Abortion AmyConeyBarrett AmyMcGrath Anti-choice Arizona ArizonaSenate BarbaraBollier BestAndWorstStatesForWomen BillBurrWho BriannaHill Cats childrape ChrisCoons Cleopatra Delaware DelawareSenate DianneFeinstein Elections FirstNations FirstNationsWomen forcedmarriage GA-Sen GalGodot Georgia Harassment Homophobia IA-Sen Idaha IdahoSenate indigenouswomen Iowa Iran JimRisch JoniErnst KamalaHarris Kansas KansasSenate KellyLoeffler Kentucky KY-Sen LaurenWitzke Maine MaineSenate MandanaDayami MarkKelly MarthaMcSally MitchMcConnell MRA NationalSenateRaces NativeAmericans NativeAmericanwomen PattyJenkins PauletteJordan PleaseFeelFreetoAddToTheseTags Politics Pooties Rape RaphaelWarnock SarahGideon SexualHarassment SusanCollins TheresaGreenfield twitwow UncivilSociety UnitedNations UNWomen Violence ViolenceAgainstWomen Vote Voting WarOnWomen wow1 _1987351 Sun, 18 Oct 2020 00:00:23 +0000 PWB Peeps: Toosdai Evening: Srs Not-Srs Poetry for Today, October 6, Illustrated! https://www.dailykos.com/story/2020/10/6/1984162/-PWB-Peeps-Toosdai-Evening-Srs-Not-Srs-Poetry-for-Today-October-6-Illustrated Welcome back to the odd and whimsical poetery of the Peeps related to holidaze! Let’s investigate <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/" target="_blank" title="">what today is</a>, because we need all the holidaze we can celebrate, right? Lately, every day seems to be many holidays! Which is good, because we all have our favorites. So I will pick out one or two, and you can click the link above if you’re curious about the rest. This is an Open Thread, so please feel free to add your favorite pomes and photoes and holidaze for today in the Comments! <h3 class="AlignCenter">Today is <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/9704d85aeaa66e88dd4352768f4085f0/national-badger-day" target="_blank" title="">National Badger Day</a>!</h3> <blockquote> <a href="https://weareallbadgers.com/nationalbadgerday.html" target="_blank" title="">Our beloved National Badger Day is an opportunity for everyone to learn about badgers</a>, take part in badger-related activities and even pretend they're a badger by digging holes in their neighbour's lawn. But sadly not everyone is able to take full advantage of the day because most people have to go to work and only jobless people, like Jobson Jobsworth, are free all day to celebrate it. </blockquote> <h4 class="AlignCenter"><a href="https://tartarus.org/gareth/poems/badgers.html" target="_blank">Badgers</a>!</h4> by Gareth Taylor (Chosen for Freddie — emphasis mine!) <div style="text-align:start"> Happy days are here again! Time for Badgers armed with pen To march toward the shores of Night, Not fearing all the Evil Ducks That hide beside the road in trucks. For Badgers hold a secret Light - Fluorescent peanuts they have brought (A Belgian brand, and widely sought). And should an Evil Duck stray by, Beware! For Badgers, quick to think, Will swiftly arm themselves with ink And poke a biro in its eye.  [Editor’s Note: Do not try this at home! I believe this is a poetic reference to writing unpleasant things about the ducks. See below.] -skip- <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="BadgersinEveningreusePixabaybadger-5020426__340.jpg" class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/865658/large/BadgersinEveningreusePixabaybadger-5020426__340.jpg?1602023487" title="BadgersinEveningreusePixabaybadger-5020426__340.jpg"> <figcaption>Badgers in the evening: Are they carrying pens? Or peanuts? Or both?</figcaption> </figure> </div> And so, with time, and no small luck, They conquered hunger, fear and Duck, And came unto the edge of Night. In awe, they held their pens and breath. Some cowards wrote themselves to death, But Badgers are not very bright. When truth Dawned, some began to weep, Though many simply fell asleep. The morning saw the rising Sun, And so our Badgers end their quest. So, well-deserved, they now can rest, And eat their peanuts, one by one.  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="BadgersandFoxreuseWikimediaCommonsBadgers_and_fox_foraging.jpg" class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/865675/large/BadgersandFoxreuseWikimediaCommonsBadgers_and_fox_foraging.jpg?1602024145" title="BadgersandFoxreuseWikimediaCommonsBadgers_and_fox_foraging.jpg"> <figcaption>Badgers eating — with a foxy friend!</figcaption> </figure> </div> [I could not find bio info on this poet. Maybe he’ll join us and let us know if he has any books for us to peruse. But about this poem he said: “I like this one. I tend to think of most of my poems as just collections of words, but this one I am proud of. Although, to be fair, with Ducks and Badgers battling in the same verse, it probably couldn't go wrong.”] <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="DucksFleeingreusePixabaytufted-duck-2410824__340.jpg" class="width-xl" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/865678/large/DucksFleeingreusePixabaytufted-duck-2410824__340.jpg?1602024361" title="DucksFleeingreusePixabaytufted-duck-2410824__340.jpg"> <figcaption>Ducks, doubtless fleeing badgers!</figcaption> </figure> </div> </div> rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) Badgers BadgersPoem Ducks foxes GarethTaylor NationalBadgerDay _1984162 Wed, 07 Oct 2020 02:00:22 +0000 PWB Peeps: Toosdai Evening: Srs Not-Srs Poetry for Today, September 29, Illustrated! https://www.dailykos.com/story/2020/9/29/1981882/-PWB-Peeps-Toosdai-Evening-Srs-Not-Srs-Poetry-for-Today-September-29-Illustrated Welcome back to the odd and whimsical poetery of the Peeps related to holidaze! Let’s investigate <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/" target="_blank">what today is</a>, because we need all the holidaze we can celebrate, right? Lately, every day seems to be many holidays! Which is good, because we all have our favorites. So I will pick out one or two, and you can click the link above if you’re curious about the rest. This is an Open Thread, so please feel free to add your favorite pomes and photoes and holidaze for today in the Comments!  <h3 class="AlignCenter">Today is National Mocha Day!</h3> <blockquote> September 29 is the favorite day of the year for many coffee maniacs in the United States because two holidays dedicated to coffee are celebrated on this day. They are International Coffee Day and <a href="https://anydayguide.com/calendar/232" target="_blank">National Mocha Day</a>. Caffè mocha, also known as mocaccino, is an American variant of a caffè latte. It is a coffee beverage based on espresso and steamed milk which contains chocolate. Typically sweetened cocoa powder is added, but some variations contain chocolate syrup, dark or milk chocolate. Sometimes caffè mocha is referred to as hot chocolate with espresso added. Caffè mocha can be served either with steamed-milk foam or whipped cream on top. Sometimes it is dusted with cocoa powder or cinnamon and topped with mini marshmallows. </blockquote> I chose this because I’m enjoying some caffeine whilst listening to the presidential debates, to stay alert. OTOH, I am playing the drinking game! (Every time $Rump says “test,” drink!) Will the mocha or the bourbon win out in my brain?? <h4 class="AlignCenter">iced mocha delight!</h4> by ladylivvil In a luscious crushed iced mocha, Cream as it's wonderful peak, Top of my mountain of mischief, The wonderful delicious iced mocha, Dwelling in my heaven filled mug, All crushed up with love, Negate the love, It's from commercial enterprise, My heartfelt want, my one desire..... To have a mocha machine of my own, to sate my wild desire!  [<a href="https://hellopoetry.com/olivia-kent/" target="_blank">Ladylivvil is Olivia Kent of Southampton, Hampshire</a>. She is a nurse with a passion for poetry. She has published books available on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Olivia-Kent/e/B00MD5JBL4?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_5&qid=1601432515&sr=8-5" target="_blank">Amazon</a>: Enter the Darkness, Purgatory, Funny Bone, And Then There Were Words.] <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="KittenandCoffee2reuseFlickr6655787769_8e167a1ce9_b.jpg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/862537/large/KittenandCoffee2reuseFlickr6655787769_8e167a1ce9_b.jpg?1601433003" title="KittenandCoffee2reuseFlickr6655787769_8e167a1ce9_b.jpg"> <figcaption>Do not let this kitten have your mocha either!</figcaption> </figure> </div> rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) aminals Animals Birdeez Birdies Birds Cats Coffee Community Dogs ElenaCarlena holidaze IcedMochaDelight Jan4Insight Kittens LadyLivvil LuvLee mocha NationalHolidays NationalMochaDay OliviaKent OpenThread Peeps PleaseFeelFreetoAddToTheseTags Poems Poetery Poetry pomes Pooties potery PWB PWBPeeps swampyankee triciawyse whimsical Whimsy Woozles _1981882 Wed, 30 Sep 2020 02:09:17 +0000 Advice to Joe Biden on the Day of the First Debate (and of course, pooties and puppies!) https://www.dailykos.com/story/2020/9/29/1981591/-Advice-to-Joe-Biden-on-the-Day-of-the-First-Debate-and-of-course-pooties-and-puppies Mr. Biden, I heard on the news that you plan to make a big deal of $Rump’s tax issues. Please don’t do that. It has very little to do with the immediate and compelling and life-threatening issues of America’s voters. I have been interacting with independents and previous $Rump voters. They are thinking about voting for you. Give them reasons. Please. If the tax issue comes up, dispose of it quickly and return to the pandemic — perhaps segue with “Lack of taxes paid by the wealthy is why everyone else’s taxes are so high yet we can’t seem to afford for the government to help us out.”  <a href="https://www.debates.org/2020/09/22/moderator-announces-topics-for-first-presidential-debate-2/" target="_blank">Here are Chris Wallace's topics</a> and how I’d recommend responding to them. Please keep bringing them back to life-and-death issues:  <h4 class="AlignCenter">The Trump and Biden Records</h4> The biggest screw-up of $Rump’s record: The mishandling of the pandemic. The continual minimizing that is even still going on (“We are turning the corner,” $Rump said yesterday as more states reported increasing numbers of cases). The lies and divisions $Rump encourages, and how they set us up for being unable to handle the pandemic. The ignorance and yet narcissistic refusal to let knowledgeable experts handle it. The 205,000 reported dead and how many more are probably dead and unreported — given <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2767980" target="_blank">a recent study showing the number of probable Covid deaths about 28% higher than the reported number</a>, then we are currently probably at least at 260,000 dead. The partial shutdown of travel from China, but only after the virus was then in Europe. The partial shutdown of travel from Europe only after the US was already infected by the thousands. The ongoing lack of a federal response, not enough supplies, not enough stimulus money, not enough lockdown, taxpayer money going to wasteful scams run by “friends” of $Rump or businesses he’s invested in. The continuing lack of response. The continuing mishandling of the pandemic. People crying over the graves of their grandparents, their parents, their friends, their children, their grandchildren. Not a single word of condolence from $Rump. Whatever else $Rump or Wallace want to talk about, keep bringing it back to this, the mishandling of the pandemic, with hundreds of millions of disrupted lives and hundreds of thousands of dead Americans as a result. Negligent homicide.  In contrast, Obama’s handling of the Ebola epidemic from 2014-2016. Despite allowing Africans in to the United States for treatment, “<a href="https://www.idsociety.org/public-health/ebola/ebola-resources/ebola-facts/#:~:text=Two%20American%20nurses%20contracted%20the,the%202017-2018%20flu%20season." target="_blank">only two people have ever been infected with Ebola while on American soil and neither died</a>”. Keep bringing it back to that. Obama’s epidemic: Two infections. $Rump’s epidemic: Currently more than 7 million infections. Two. Versus more than 7 million. And Obama left $Rump a pandemic plan that you will follow. Explain some of that, exactly what you will do to get this under control. Then return to $Rump’s failure. Obama: Two. Zero dead. $Rump: Seven million. Over 205,000 counted dead. Underestimates of his abject failure.  <h4 class="AlignCenter">The Supreme Court</h4> I have heard you talking about how access to affordable healthcare is at risk. Keep emphasizing that, that’s good. Due to the $Rump destruction of the economy and our health from mishandling the pandemic, accessible affordable healthcare is more important than ever and its lack is most obvious now. If $Rump has a plan other than asking the Supreme Court to end the ACA, what is it? Specifically? He has said it would be ready in 2 weeks several times over the course of the last 4 years. He shouldn’t wait to be re-elected. Let him present it NOW.  You might also throw in some stories about women who have had to have late-term abortions. It’s usually in order to save the life of the mother and/or remove a nonviable fetus causing her agony. It is not “pro-life” to kill women who are trying to have babies, and especially not to put women’s life and health in further danger and maybe they die after they’ve been raped and forced into unwanted pregnancies. That’s why abortion has to be legal, affordable, and accessible to all. When it happens needs to be the woman’s decision with the advice of her doctors, just like men’s health decisions and timing are theirs with the advice of their doctors. Women can be trusted more than judges. Especially judges with religious agendas that blind them to grim realities. You were brought up that abortion is wrong, like me; but we have had to face the facts that killing pregnant women with our demands is the actual wrong. A lot of judges still don’t understand that. It is not a politician’s place to have any decision-making power over a citizen’s healthcare decisions.  Still, more palatable to swing voters, and bringing us back to the idiocy of the current handling of the pandemic and challenges to the ACA, is that access to affordable healthcare is at risk for all of us. Repeat it. They say everything has to be heard at least 3 times before it sinks in. Three. Everything, 3 times.  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Dog_Ruth_Bader_Ginsburg_reuse_YouTube_Last_Week_Tonight_0aad6e3fb70d5871c346be635e70b933.jpg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/627071/large/Dog_Ruth_Bader_Ginsburg_reuse_YouTube_Last_Week_Tonight_0aad6e3fb70d5871c346be635e70b933.jpg?1546135621" title="Dog_Ruth_Bader_Ginsburg_reuse_YouTube_Last_Week_Tonight_0aad6e3fb70d5871c346be635e70b933.jpg"> <figcaption>The next SC justice needs to be smart and compassionate (h/t John Oliver)</figcaption> </figure> </div> <h4 class="AlignCenter">Covid-19</h4> Great! Another chance to say all of the above. Hit him hard and repeatedly. He will try to change the subject. This is his biggest weakness. Do NOT let this 15 minutes be used for any other topic!! <h4 class="AlignCenter">The Economy</h4> The biggest rationalization I have heard from $Rump voters is that he gave us a good economy until Covid hit. He did not!! He was blessed with a leftover good economy from the Obama/Biden years. Here’s one good summary in charts from a relatively conservative publication, <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/9-charts-comparing-trump-economy-to-obama-bush-administrations-2019-9-1028833119#" target="_blank">markets.businessinsider.com/</a>… $Rump had only managed to do damage to the Obama economy even before the pandemic hit.  Of course, his mishandling of the pandemic has caused the economy to crash, and no matter how much he — and admittedly we all — want to open up, the economy will only get worse as the rates of Covid infection expand under the $Rump non-virus-fighting plan. Explain that the stock market is being artificially propped up, and this cannot last forever under $Rump’s ineptitude. This is not a sharp businessman who ever saved the economy and can ever save it in the future. This is an incompetent, not particularly bright narcissist who spent his father’s entire fortune and now is in debt in the billions. Hit him hard again and again!  Explain what you will do: Send all non-essential workers back home, with monthly stimulus payments to pay their bills. Explain that even $Rump’s Treasury Secretary admitted that the federal government could afford to send out monthly checks indefinitely, until the pandemic was under control. This would keep people housed and fed and with medical care, and would stimulate the economy in providing these needs. Send all students back home, whilst giving them computers and broadband Internet connections. Use your war powers to get nationwide publicly paid broadband infrastructure fast, so currently under-served areas, both urban inner city and rural, can have access to the Internet for education and business and other purposes, finally bringing this country into the 21st century as far as the technological prowess needed for the future. This will greatly equalize education, bringing standards up to the best schools in the country, improvements that have been badly needed for a long time. Pay teachers and professors bonuses, as teaching via the Internet will require some extra time and creativity at least for the first year as they learn the best ways to use technology to teach their variety of students. But keep students learning at home until there is a proven safe and effective vaccine. There is NO reason to allow these proven super spreaders! A law can be passed to simply pay the schools’ and universities’ expenses, minus outrageously inflated and completely unnecessary executive salaries, with the above stimulus payments to the staff.  Stimulus payments should be something on the order of $1500-2000 per adult per month, and about $1000 per child per month (payable to their caretakers, not to them directly). This will provide a bit of a “thank you” to parents who have extra emotional and time burdens with their children not in school.  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Cat_Video_Montage_by_ec.jpg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/340729/large/Cat_Video_Montage_by_ec.jpg?1482115481" title="Cat_Video_Montage_by_ec.jpg"> <figcaption>All students should have computer/Internet resources at home!</figcaption> </figure> </div> <h4 class="AlignCenter">Race and Violence in our Cities</h4> This is an unfairly loaded question. Fight it as such. Present the facts regarding "violence in our cities”. Push hard on the freedom and right to protest, and especially to petition the government for redress of grievances, and the freedom of the press, as vital protected First Amendment rights. Call out the infuriating horror of a president trampling on our precious First Amendment to the Constitution. Repeatedly state that the vast majority of protesters have been peaceful, that only a handful have engaged in violence, that more often the violence has been perpetrated by white supremacist followers of $Rump and $Rump-hate-speech-inspired white domestic terrorists, some of them cops illegally acting under color of “law”. Give the statistics if you can find them. Talk about adding funds to police departments for social workers and mental health teams and crisis intervention teams, to cities for mental health facilities and affordable shelter for the homeless, and taking away from the police military weapons and military thinking because the citizens of the United States are not the Enemy, we are not at war with our own neighbors.  Talk about the need to reform the police. They know what to do, now they need to be motivated to do it. Every criminal in the US should be treated like Brad Parscale. Every police officer should patrol his or her district in pairs, on foot, so that they know the people they serve and so that people know who they are. There should be better selection of police so that those personalities who like to serve others are selected, not those with authoritarian bullying personalities. We need to get rid of for-profit prisons. Prisons should be motivated to let people out as soon as it is safe to do so, not to keep them in to increase their own profits. Training needs to be reformed so that recruits will fail classes if they shoot a virtual unarmed suspect as much as if they do not shoot a virtual dangerous armed suspect.  Let citizens air their grievances, governments respond, and have police departments that truly serve and protect all citizens, and racial problems will resolve. This country is stronger because of its diversity, not weaker. Welcoming strangers into this country provides many new opportunities for everyone, few threats to everyone, and we will continue to investigate applicants to make sure of that.  Of course we will remove the ridiculous border wall. Violating people’s private properties, worsening erosion along the river, spending billions or trillions on structures that can be defeated by a $40 ladder from a discount store, are such wasteful idiocy that it’s almost inexpressible what a travesty this has been. We will add personnel and signage to the border, allow applicants for asylum and speed up the process, as required by international laws that $Rump has been ignoring. Most people probably won’t even want to come here until the pandemic is under control, but those who do, and pass screening, will help provide us with our essential services.  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Seen at the March for Science in Washington, DC." src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/702916/large/DogprotestsignSmartPuppyBelieveinSciencereuseFlickr34078324381_d6f919d3a3_b.jpg?1564711622" title="Seen at the March for Science in Washington, DC."> <figcaption>Freedom of expression for all!</figcaption> </figure> </div> <h4 class="AlignCenter">The Integrity of the Election</h4> Present the facts repeatedly: This has been thoroughly investigated. <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/house/482569-senate-gop-blocks-three-election-security-bills" target="_blank">There are bills languishing in front of Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans that can and should be passed right now</a> to ensure minimal interference in our elections from other countries. <a href="https://bipartisanpolicy.org/blog/is-voting-by-mail-safe-and-reliable-we-asked-state-and-local-elections-officials/" target="_blank">Mail-in voting has been used for decades with no evidence of increases in fraudulent ballots; in fact, there is some evidence that it is LESS open to fraud</a>! Both Democratic and Republican states encourage mail-in voting. We will make in-person voting as safe as possible. But voters should not have to choose between exercising their right to vote and exposing themselves to Covid infection. We will make mail-in voting and drop-off ballots as secure as humanly possible. Voters should feel free to vote by any method they prefer. $Rump needs to stop pretending that there is something wrong with mail-in ballots in blue districts but they are perfectly fine in red districts. In fact, the vast majority of the Washington DC government votes by mail-in ballot and has ever since it was offered. If $Rump thinks mail-in ballots are fraudulent, perhaps he should decline to vote this year and allow his previous votes to be erased, since he has voted by mail-in ballot repeatedly himself.  Well, Mr. Biden, I want to give you time to read and consider this, and know it’s already late in the day, so I am going to publish although I’m sure these expressions of thought are less than perfect.  The main point is, please bring everything back to lives saved and economy stimulated. $Rump has many levels of outrageousness. Let the rest of it go for now. To address all of it would require a speech of several months’ duration, and much of it is intentional distraction. Don’t let him distract you. Focus on lives. Thank you!  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="cat entering a polling place" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/608447/large/ClpTwiTWYAAtMJf.jpg?1541530932" title="cat entering a polling place"> <figcaption>Attract the undecided!</figcaption> </figure> </div> Folks, unfortunately I need to go help Mom. So this is now an open thread on the subject. Please discuss amongst yourselves and tell Mr. Biden how you would like to see him address the issues in the limited time frame available. What about Mr. Biden and Democratic values will attract nonvoters, independents, swing voters, former $Rump voters? If you think it’s valuable, please buzz Mr. Biden’s team.  And please don’t forget: Repeatedly check your registration as needed to ensure it’s valid in early November. Make sure you have proper ID. Then or during early voting where available, vote like our lives depend on it. Because this year, even more than usual, they do! <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/04/key-coronavirus-forecast-predicts-over-410000-total-us-deaths-by-jan-1.html" target="_blank" title="">More than half a million US deaths by the end of 2020 if we keep easing restrictions</a>.  rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) Cats Community Debate Dogs Election JoeBiden PleaseFeelFreetoAddToTheseTags Pooties Woozles _1981591 Tue, 29 Sep 2020 22:25:16 +0000 PWB Peeps: Toosdai Evening: Srs Not-Srs Poetry for Today, September 22, Illustrated! https://www.dailykos.com/story/2020/9/22/1979772/-PWB-Peeps-Toosdai-Evening-Srs-Not-Srs-Poetry-for-Today-September-22-Illustrated Welcome back to the odd and whimsical poetery of the Peeps related to holidaze! Let’s investigate <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/" target="_blank">what today is</a>, because we need all the holidaze we can celebrate, right? Lately, every day seems to be many holidays! Which is good, because we all have our favorites. So I will pick out one or two, and you can click the link above if you’re curious about the rest. This is an Open Thread, so please feel free to add your favorite pomes and photoes and holidaze for today in the Comments!  <h3 class="AlignCenter">Today Is National Voter Registration Day: I Hope Everyone Participated!</h3> <blockquote> <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/8e6fd68c7349ab0ce0959f0a71830a11/national-voter-registration-day" target="_blank">National Voter Registration Day</a>, which was started in 2012, is a holiday celebrating democracy in the United States, in which the goal is to make sure everyone has the opportunity to vote. Awareness is raised so that tens of thousands of people register to vote who may not be reached otherwise. Volunteers work on the ground and with technology and media to make sure this happens. The day is endorsed by the <a href="http://www.nass.org/" target="_blank">National Association of Secretaries of State</a> and <a href="https://www.nased.org/" target="_blank">State Election Directors</a>. <div style="text-align:start"></div> <h2 style="text-align:start">How to Observe</h2> Celebrate the day by <a href="https://nationalvoterregistrationday.org/register-to-vote/?source=nvrd-topnav" target="_blank">registering to vote</a> if you have not yet done so. You can also <a href="https://www.nationalvoterregistrationday.org/partner-sign-up/" target="_blank">sign up</a> to be a volunteer, or <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/events/fac3822f8d3fccd751e1d04d99c88e05052a0f3e/edit" target="_blank">create an event</a> that volunteers can sign up at. If you are a future voter or wish to be a volunteer, you can <a href="https://www.nationalvoterregistrationday.org/events/" target="_blank">search for events</a> close to you. Contributing <a href="https://www.nationalvoterregistrationday.org/donate/" target="_blank">financially</a> is another was to support National Voter Registration Day. Other <a href="https://www.nationalvoterregistrationday.org/partner-tools/" target="_blank">resources</a> for helping organize events and activities are also available. </blockquote> <h4 class="AlignCenter">Be Sure You And Everyone You Love is/are Registered!!</h4> <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="cat cleaning itself in front of polling station in Wapping, London, England" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/435592/large/IMG_2257.jpg?1502650304" title="cat cleaning itself in front of polling station in Wapping, London, England"> <figcaption>Do not ignore this important step!</figcaption> </figure> </div> <h3 class="AlignCenter">Today Is Also <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/bc773913b9d2bac29cb8c037c197c095/the-first-day-of-fall" target="_blank">The Autumnal Equinox</a>!</h3> <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="IMG_0120.jpg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/807958/large/IMG_0120.jpg?1590115883" title="IMG_0120.jpg"> <figcaption>Autumn flowers</figcaption> </figure> </div> <h4 class="AlignCenter"><a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43288/the-wild-swans-at-coole" target="_blank">The Wild Swans at Coole</a></h4> by William Butler Yeats <div style="text-align:start"> <div>The trees are in their autumn beauty,</div> <div>The woodland paths are dry,</div> <div>Under the October twilight the water</div> <div>Mirrors a still sky;</div> <div>Upon the brimming water among the stones</div> <div>Are nine-and-fifty swans.</div> <div> <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="SwansLargeBevyreusePixabayswans-5464939_1280.jpg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/859700/large/SwansLargeBevyreusePixabayswans-5464939_1280.jpg?1600827455" title="SwansLargeBevyreusePixabayswans-5464939_1280.jpg"> <figcaption>Many swans are called a bevy!</figcaption> </figure> </div> The nineteenth autumn has come upon me Since I first made my count; I saw, before I had well finished, All suddenly mount And scatter wheeling in great broken rings Upon their clamorous wings. </div> <div> <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="SwansMountingtoSkyBiggerreusePxHere.jpg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/859704/large/SwansMountingtoSkyBiggerreusePxHere.jpg?1600827891" title="SwansMountingtoSkyBiggerreusePxHere.jpg"> <figcaption>All suddenly mount and scatter</figcaption> </figure> </div> I have looked upon those brilliant creatures, And now my heart is sore. All's changed since I, hearing at twilight, The first time on this shore, The bell-beat of their wings above my head, Trod with a lighter tread. </div> <div> <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="SwansinFlightreusePxHere34f0f8381cf38135889ad7aa1491-1599104.jpgd" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/859705/large/SwansinFlightreusePxHere34f0f8381cf38135889ad7aa1491-1599104.jpgd?1600828058" title="SwansinFlightreusePxHere34f0f8381cf38135889ad7aa1491-1599104.jpgd"> <figcaption>Flying more lightly</figcaption> </figure> </div> Unwearied still, lover by lover, They paddle in the cold Companionable streams or climb the air; Their hearts have not grown old; Passion or conquest, wander where they will, Attend upon them still. </div> <div></div> <div>But now they drift on the still water,</div> <div>Mysterious, beautiful;</div> <div>Among what rushes will they build,</div> <div>By what lake's edge or pool</div> <div>Delight men's eyes when I awake some day</div> <div>To find they have flown away? </div> <div> <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="SwansinAutumnreuseWikimediaCommonsAutumn_With_Swans_182355665.jpeg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/859707/large/SwansinAutumnreuseWikimediaCommonsAutumn_With_Swans_182355665.jpeg?1600828189" title="SwansinAutumnreuseWikimediaCommonsAutumn_With_Swans_182355665.jpeg"> <figcaption>Drifting</figcaption> </figure> </div> [<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._B._Yeats" target="_blank">William Butler Yeats</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._B._Yeats#cite_note-1">[a]</a> (13 June 1865 – 28 January 1939) was an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_poet">Irish poet</a> and one of the foremost figures of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century_in_literature">20th-century literature</a>. A pillar of the Irish literary establishment, he helped to found the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbey_Theatre">Abbey Theatre</a>, and in his later years served two terms as a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seanad_%C3%89ireann_(Irish_Free_State)">Senator</a> of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Free_State">Irish Free State</a>. He was a driving force behind the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Literary_Revival">Irish Literary Revival</a> along with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augusta,_Lady_Gregory">Lady Gregory</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Martyn">Edward Martyn</a> and others. Much more bio at the Wiki link above and also at this <a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/william-butler-yeats" target="_blank">Poetry Foundation link</a>. He was quite a character, IMO!] </div> </div> rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) aminals Animals Autumn AutumnalEquinox Bevy Birdeez Birdies Birds Cats Community Dogs ElenaCarlena GOTV holidaze Jan4Insight LuvLee NationalHolidays NationalVoterRegistrationDay OpenThread Peeps PleaseFeelFreetoAddToTheseTags Poems Poetery Poetry pomes Pooties potery PWB PWBPeeps swampyankee swans TheWildSwansAtCoole triciawyse Vote WBYeats whimsical Whimsy WilliamButlerYeats Woozles _1979772 Wed, 23 Sep 2020 02:31:52 +0000 PWB Peeps: Toosdai Evening: Srs Not-Srs Poetry for Today, September 15, Illustrated! https://www.dailykos.com/story/2020/9/15/1977703/-PWB-Peeps-Toosdai-Evening-Srs-Not-Srs-Poetry-for-Today-September-15-Illustrated Welcome back to the odd poetery of the Peeps related to holidaze! Let’s investigate <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/" target="_blank">what today is</a>, because we need all the holidaze we can celebrate, right?  PLEASE NOTE: Thanks to the limited number of poems on topic, the orange sky outside my door, and my computer glitching so that I can’t download any new photos, this evening’s diary isn’t so whimsical/funny. But hopefully you’ll find it hopeful anyway. Things have to get better at this point!  Lately, every day seems to be many holidays! Which is good, because we all have our favorites. So I will pick out one, and you can click the link above if you’re curious about the rest. This is an Open Thread, so please feel free to add your favorite pomes and photoes and holidaze for today in the Comments!  <h3 class="AlignCenter">Today is <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/d9fb236070eba0a7450cb025e7613328/greenpeace-day" target="_blank">Greenpeace Day</a></h3> <blockquote> <a href="https://www.vancourier.com/news/greenpeace-marks-milestone-1.380705" target="_blank">It was… [49] years ago that a ragtag group of hippies first set sail from Burrard Inlet in an attempt to stop the U.S. government from blowing up nuclear bombs off the coast of Alaska</a>. Worried the testing could trigger devastating tsunamis, the young environmentalists initially called themselves the Don't Make a Wave Foundation, but soon ended up themselves making waves of their own under their new nom de guerre, Greenpeace. <div> The Greenpeace Foundations has since become the worlds largest, independent environmental organization and famous (or infamous, depending on your point of view or stock holdings) for taking a hands-on approach to a variety of important issues ranging from global warming to rainforest deforestation, overfishing and commercial whaling. </div> </blockquote> Next year is their 50th anniversary! And they are needed to make “<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/07/18/rep-john-lewis-most-memorable-quotes-get-good-trouble/5464148002/" target="_blank">good trouble</a>” more than ever.  <h4 class="AlignCenter"><a href="https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/stories/ada-limon-on-our-climate-in-crisis/" target="_blank">Salvage</a></h4> by Ada Limón (emphasis mine — ec) (note also that the above was published on the Greenpeace website, so the above link takes you there, if you’d like to donate) On the top of Mount Pisgah, on the western slope of the Mayacamas, there’s a madrone tree that’s half-burned from the fires, half-alive from nature’s need to propagate. One side of her is black ash and at her root is what looks like a cavity that was hollowed out by flame. On the other side, silvery green broadleaf shoots ascend toward the winter light and her bark is a cross between a bay horse and a chestnut horse, red and velvety like the animal’s neck she resembles. I have been staring at the tree for a long time now. I am reminded of the righteousness I had before the scorch of time. I miss who I was. I miss who we all were, before we were this: half alive to the brightening sky, half dead already. I place my hand on the unscarred bark that is cool and unsullied, and because I cannot apologize to the tree, to my own self I say, I am sorry. I am sorry I have been so reckless with your life. [<a href="https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/stories/ada-limon-on-our-climate-in-crisis/" target="_blank">Ada Limón</a> is the author of five books of poetry, including <a href="https://milkweed.org/book/the-carrying" target="_blank">The Carrying</a> (note the link goes to a non-Amazon purchase option!), which won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Poetry and was named one of the top 5 poetry books of the year by the Washington Post.] <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="MORONGO VALLEY, CA - APRIL 12: A California quail forages among burned vegetation in Pipes Canyon Wilderness Preserve, where recovery from a massive 2005 wildfire that killed most of its iconic Joshua trees, is further complicated by a drought-inducing r" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/211466/large/GettyImages-73869780.jpg?1455818508" title="MORONGO VALLEY, CA - APRIL 12: A California quail forages among burned vegetation in Pipes Canyon Wilderness Preserve, where recovery from a massive 2005 wildfire that killed most of its iconic Joshua trees, is further complicated by a drought-inducing r"> <figcaption>Quail return to previously burned area, California 2007 (h/t Walter Einenkel)</figcaption> </figure> </div> <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="woman rescues Koala..https://players.brightcove.net/416418724/default_default/index.html?videoId=6106709457001" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/753901/large/woman-rescues-koala.jpg?1578266302" title="woman rescues Koala..https://players.brightcove.net/416418724/default_default/index.html?videoId=6106709457001"> <figcaption>Woman rescues koala, Australia 2019 (h/t Tevye)</figcaption> </figure> </div> <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="200908161711-08-wildfires-ca-ca-exlarge-169.jpg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/856398/large/200908161711-08-wildfires-ca-ca-exlarge-169.jpg?1600115031" title="200908161711-08-wildfires-ca-ca-exlarge-169.jpg"> <figcaption>Woman evacuates alpacas, California 2020 (h/t ejoanna)</figcaption> </figure> </div> rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) AdaLimon Alpacas aminals Animals Birdeez Birds Cats Community Dogs ElenaCarlena GreenpeaceDay holidaze Jan4Insight koalas LuvLee NationalHolidays OpenThread Peeps PleaseFeelFreetoAddToTheseTags Poems Poetery Poetry pomes Pooties potery PWB PWBPeeps quail Recommended Salvage swampyankee TheCarrying triciawyse whimsical Whimsy Woozles _1977703 Wed, 16 Sep 2020 02:09:50 +0000 PWB Peeps: Toosdai Evening: Srs Not-Srs Poetry for Today, September 8, Illustrated! https://www.dailykos.com/story/2020/9/8/1976000/-PWB-Peeps-Toosdai-Evening-Srs-Not-Srs-Poetry-for-Today-September-8-Illustrated Welcome back to the odd and whimsical poetery of the Peeps related to holidaze! Let’s investigate <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/" target="_blank">what today is</a>, because we need all the holidaze we can celebrate, right? Lately, every day seems to be many holidays! Which is good, because we all have our favorites. So I will pick out one, and you can click the link above if you’re curious about the rest. This is an Open Thread, so please feel free to add your favorite pomes and photoes and holidaze for today in the Comments! Welp, first of all today is the day after Labor Day, so please thank a union for bringing us decent pay and benefits, shorter work hours and weekends! Secondly, today is exactly 8 weeks until Election Day, so please GOTV!  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="cat entering a polling place" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/608447/large/ClpTwiTWYAAtMJf.jpg?1541530932" title="cat entering a polling place"> <figcaption>Make sure everyone knows they’re registered and where to vote or mail in their ballots!</figcaption> </figure> </div> <h3 class="AlignCenter">Secondly, Today is World Physical Therapy Day!</h3> <blockquote> <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/6a89e32b8c1e70a12568da66d7bc8f41/world-physical-therapy-day" target="_blank">Physical therapists help people of all ages stay active and mobile</a> through advice and exercise programs. World Physical Therapy Day is a day "for physical therapists from all over the world to raise awareness about the crucial contribution the profession makes to keeping people well, mobile, and independent." It is organized by the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT), and the overall theme each year is "Movement for Health". </blockquote> I have had physical therapy. They are wonderful people and extremely helpful!  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="CatExerciseMemereuseCheezburgerexercise-i-thought-you-said-extra-fries.png" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/853938/large/CatExerciseMemereuseCheezburgerexercise-i-thought-you-said-extra-fries.png?1599616593" title="CatExerciseMemereuseCheezburgerexercise-i-thought-you-said-extra-fries.png"> <figcaption>They can help you hate exercise less!</figcaption> </figure> </div> <h4 class="AlignCenter">Physical Therapy</h4> by Terri Cannan It was more than physical therapy but little did we see. It was about you helping me and me helping you too. Soft meditation songs playing quietly as your coaching me. Words of praise and encouragement along with stretches. Pain relieving, muscles strengthen along the way. Feeling better with time and progress. When we first started I was a mess. Conversations we shared showed you really cared. It was more than physical therapy. Not about money. I could clearly see you Enjoy what you do, therefore you are good at it. Sharing about the pain in our lives that breaks our hearts, another healing begins. Its more than physical therapy, now we are friends….  [For the rest, please click this <a href="https://www.poetrynation.com/poems/physical-therapy/" target="_blank">link</a>!]  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="CatPhysicalTherapyreusePinterest1dc94e7d78e57fabe3900019b5ddf0b1.jpg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/853945/large/CatPhysicalTherapyreusePinterest1dc94e7d78e57fabe3900019b5ddf0b1.jpg?1599618153" title="CatPhysicalTherapyreusePinterest1dc94e7d78e57fabe3900019b5ddf0b1.jpg"> <figcaption>Whatever it takes to get you up and walking again!</figcaption> </figure> </div> [Unfortunately, other than her need for PT, I cannot find out much biographical info about the author. Maybe she’ll see her tag and let us know! Meanwhile, for more pomes by this author at Poetry Nation, please click <a href="https://www.poetrynation.com/members/69821/terri_cannan/" target="_blank">here</a>!]  rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) 8Weeks aminals Animals Cats Community Dogs ElenaCarlena GOTV holidaze Jan4Insight LaborDay LuvLee NationalHolidays OpenThread Peeps physicaltherapy PleaseFeelFreetoAddToTheseTags Poems Poetery Poetry pomes Pooties potery PWB PWBPeeps shannon swampyankee TerriCannan triciawyse Unions whimsical Whimsy Woozles WorldPhysicalTherapyDay _1976000 Wed, 09 Sep 2020 02:13:52 +0000 PWB Peeps: Toosdai Evening: Srs Not-Srs Poetry for Today, September 1, Illustrated! https://www.dailykos.com/story/2020/9/1/1974218/-PWB-Peeps-Toosdai-Evening-Srs-Not-Srs-Poetry-for-Today-September-1-Illustrated Welp, first of all, Happy September 1, everybuddy! Just a little over 2 months to go — please write some postcards, make some calls, help people get proper ID; do a little something, whatever is in your wheelhouse, to help get those eligible nonvoters to the polls! I thank you and democracy thanks you.  Now, on to our evening break for aminal fun! Our odd and whimsical poetery of the Peeps related to holidaze! Let’s investigate <a href="https://www.checkiday.com/" target="_blank">what today is</a>, because we need all the holidaze we can celebrate, right? Lately, every day seems to be many holidays! Which is good, because we all have our favorites. So I will pick out one, and you can click the link above if you’re curious about the rest. This is an Open Thread, so please feel free to add your favorite pomes and photoes and holidaze for today in the Comments!  <h3 class="AlignCenter">OMG, <a href="https://www.animalrescueprofessionals.org/national-days/ginger-appreciation-day/" target="_blank">Today Is Ginger Cat Appreciation Day</a>!</h3> Every day in our house is Ginger appreciation day, but today it’s official!  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="GingerLaughs.jpg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/833188/large/GingerLaughs.jpg?1595043241" title="GingerLaughs.jpg"> <figcaption>Ginger says, “Welp, it’s about time!”</figcaption> </figure> </div> But really it’s only peripherally about my Ginger (sorry sweetie) (bolding mine):  <blockquote> Ginger cats refers to the orange tabby cats that are so unique in their coloring and demeanor.  There are many to be found throughout the animal rescue world though not all are as special as Doobert. Today is ginger cat appreciation day and we want to remind you about a very special ginger cat named Doobert who helped revolutionize animal rescue transport forever. Animals play such an important part in our lives and many times they inspire us to greatness that we never thought we had within us.   </blockquote> <h4 class="AlignCenter">the invisible cat</h4> by <a href="https://www.poetrysoup.com/poems_poets/poems_by_poet.aspx?ID=10604" target="_blank">Daver Austin</a> <a href="https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/the_invisible_cat_502528" target="_blank">he was out all night</a> our tabby cat named tiger he’s beat – sleeping now i asked him very kindly, “where do you go all night, tig?” no answer, of course kitties eat then disappear no one knows just where they are so sleek and so slim any crack is wide enough  <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Gingerflopsleepingcropped.jpg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/669908/large/Gingerflopsleepingcropped.jpg?1556401952" title="Gingerflopsleepingcropped.jpg"> <figcaption>Dreamin of alternate worlds</figcaption> </figure> </div> how fascinating how strange to visualize – our tig slipping through into this alternate world known only to the feline i’ve often seen tig blank, staring off into space, his feet in motion, hunting in this paradise where no effort will recall   <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="GingerClaimsToy20191231.jpg" src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/752406/large/GingerClaimsToy20191231.jpg?1577775227" title="GingerClaimsToy20191231.jpg"> <figcaption>Huntin an’ claimin the wild catnip toy</figcaption> </figure> </div> [The only info on Daver Austin claims he is an international poet. However, <a href="https://www.davidaustinroses.com/products/the-poet-s-wife" target="_blank">there is a David Austin who breeds roses, one of which he calls “The Poet’s Wife”</a>. If he’s the same person, that’s an interesting combination!] rss@dailykos.com (elenacarlena) aminals Animals Cats Community DaverAustin Dogs ElenaCarlena ginger GingerCatAppreciationDay holidaze Jan4Insight LuvLee NationalHolidays OpenThread Oreo Peeps PleaseFeelFreetoAddToTheseTags Poems Poetery Poetry pomes Pooties potery PWB PWBPeeps Recommended swampyankee TheInvisibleCat triciawyse whimsical Whimsy Woozles _1974218 Wed, 02 Sep 2020 02:02:37 +0000