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Apr. 12th, 2015
Morning Conversation
Apr. 12th, 2015 01:41 pmMy partner Doug is watching some thing making fun of Rand Paul, and making side comments ...
Him: "His campaign slogan is 'Release the American Dream.' It's not the Kraken!"
Me: "That depends on which side of Manifest Destiny you're on. To me, it fits. I think it fits perfectly."
Him: *cracks up laughing*
Me: "People on reservations all over America are probably having this conversation."
Him: "His campaign slogan is 'Release the American Dream.' It's not the Kraken!"
Me: "That depends on which side of Manifest Destiny you're on. To me, it fits. I think it fits perfectly."
Him: *cracks up laughing*
Me: "People on reservations all over America are probably having this conversation."
Walking Outside
Apr. 12th, 2015 04:56 pmIt's a warm, breezy, overcast spring day here at Fieldhaven. I went for a walk outside and saw ...
* Full bloom: daffodils, jonquils, giant hyacinths, grape hyacinths, forsythia, domestic apricot, domestic plum, wild violets, trillium.
* Buds: redbuds, gold currants, columbines, Manchurian apricot.
* The first few stems of asparagus are sprouting, and should be ready to start picking in a day or two.
* A bumblebee servicing the daffodils under the maple southeast of our house, heavy with pollen. This is a strong sign of spring, as bees rarely emerge when there is still cold weather to come.
* The mourning dove nest under the porch roof is still active. The one in the crotch of the walnut tree has fallen to predation, with a broken eggshell still in the nest.
* Full bloom: daffodils, jonquils, giant hyacinths, grape hyacinths, forsythia, domestic apricot, domestic plum, wild violets, trillium.
* Buds: redbuds, gold currants, columbines, Manchurian apricot.
* The first few stems of asparagus are sprouting, and should be ready to start picking in a day or two.
* A bumblebee servicing the daffodils under the maple southeast of our house, heavy with pollen. This is a strong sign of spring, as bees rarely emerge when there is still cold weather to come.
* The mourning dove nest under the porch roof is still active. The one in the crotch of the walnut tree has fallen to predation, with a broken eggshell still in the nest.
Stephen Hawking Sings "The Galaxy Song"
Apr. 12th, 2015 05:09 pmGEEKGASM!!!
Also, bonus points for what I think is only the third useful pop-up I've ever seen: "Click here to download the song."
Also, bonus points for what I think is only the third useful pop-up I've ever seen: "Click here to download the song."
Poem: "More Anxious to Agree"
Apr. 12th, 2015 05:12 pmThis poem is from the April 7, 2015 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by a prompt from Shirley Barrette. It also fills the "conflicting obligations / oaths" square in my 3-16-15 card for the ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
genprompt_bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by Anthony & Shirley Barrette. It belongs to the Dr. Infanta and Antimatter/Stalwart Stan threads of the series Polychrome Heroics.
Warning: This poem contains flangst and canon-typical rough stuff. Further details contain spoilers; highlight to read. There is criminal activity, crisis negotiation, gunrunners and a BASH team with actual firearms, intentional and unintentional injuries, a few messy medical bits, angsting over whose fault it was, and so forth. On the whole, however, the tone is upbeat and the outcomes pretty good -- particularly considering the amount of physical and metaphysical firepower in play. Think about what you're in the mood for before clicking through.
( Read more... )
genprompt_bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by Anthony & Shirley Barrette. It belongs to the Dr. Infanta and Antimatter/Stalwart Stan threads of the series Polychrome Heroics.Warning: This poem contains flangst and canon-typical rough stuff. Further details contain spoilers; highlight to read. There is criminal activity, crisis negotiation, gunrunners and a BASH team with actual firearms, intentional and unintentional injuries, a few messy medical bits, angsting over whose fault it was, and so forth. On the whole, however, the tone is upbeat and the outcomes pretty good -- particularly considering the amount of physical and metaphysical firepower in play. Think about what you're in the mood for before clicking through.
( Read more... )The Expense of Parenting
Apr. 12th, 2015 08:07 pm... prevents people from becoming parents.
Something else that caught my eye, however, is that almost 75% of women seeking abortion cite financial hardship as the primary reason. Thus, if someone wished to reduce the number of abortions that happened, many avenues are open to reach that 75%. Increase employment opportunities. Raise wages. Make health care more affordable, or better yet free at point of delivery; same for child care. Provide paid leave for parents. Those would be actions a caring society could take. A caring individual could simply offer to pay expenses one-on-one, as some adoptive parents offer. But these are all very rare tactics for organizations which purport to want a decrease in abortions.
Something else that caught my eye, however, is that almost 75% of women seeking abortion cite financial hardship as the primary reason. Thus, if someone wished to reduce the number of abortions that happened, many avenues are open to reach that 75%. Increase employment opportunities. Raise wages. Make health care more affordable, or better yet free at point of delivery; same for child care. Provide paid leave for parents. Those would be actions a caring society could take. A caring individual could simply offer to pay expenses one-on-one, as some adoptive parents offer. But these are all very rare tactics for organizations which purport to want a decrease in abortions.
This is the free epic poll for the April 7, 2015 Poetry Fishbowl meeting the $200 threshold. Everyone is eligible to vote in this poll. I will keep it open until at least Monday evening. If there's a clear answer then, I'll close it. Otherwise I may leave it open a little longer.( Read and vote! )
