We need a more representative democracy with proportional representation (if a party gets 30% of the vote, it gets 30% of the seats). It would end gerrymandering and elect more diverse representatives!
"[w]hich is why you gotta pass the referendum and not elect Republicans." Something so many of my fellow Missourians can't seem to grasp. They want All the Nice Things, but then vote for these raging assholes. You can't have it both ways!
We’ve worked tirelessly for a full year facing bureaucratic barriers and ugly opposition meant to stop us, all the while believing in our constitutional right to referendum, the rule of law and the clarity of our state’s constitution! Now we’re telling every voter in Missouri who’ll listen, VOTE NO ON PROP A!!!
OT, but a good example of how ‘Murrica is totally in step with the rest of the world.
This past week the UN agreed 164 to 1 to support the “Equal Earth” map of the planet. This map, developed in 2018, corrects the ridiculous size imbalances of the Mercator projection (developed in and used since 1569), where countries closer to the Poles appear much larger than countries closer to the Equator. Consider Greenland, which on the Mercator projection is approximately the size of the entire continent of Africa, when in reality it is 1/14th the size. There is something of a tradeoff in shapes, because if countries stretch north and south a long way they need to fit with their adjoining countries. But the cartographers who developed Equal Earth worked very hard to maintain shapes and relative positions where they could, so it looks quite similar to what people are used to.
The Mercator map had legitimate reasons behind it: to allow sailors to chart straight-line courses based on compass headings, and to show relative latitudes north-south.*But more recently it has been seen as supporting the concept that the global north is bigger and more important, and the south is smaller and less significant. You get one guess as to which country on the whole planet voted against the UN resolution. “That’s stupid, look how small they show Greenland and Canada; why would I want to own them if they were that tiny?!?”
Here’s a good page you can flip back and forth and see the difference between the two maps.
* For any cartographic or seafaring or just general nerds out there who want to understand some of the challenges of early navigation I recommend the book “Longitude” by Dava Sobel.
Thank you so much for the link. Actually seeing the maps, I was surprised at how different things are. We do see photographs taken from space, but somehow the maps being off doesn't register - at least for me it didn't.
Henlo Wonkets - I had been debating donating plasma again because 1. extra money and 2. societal good. Then I got a message about a "welcome back" bonus. So I went twice this week and got $180, and if I go twice next week I get another $200.
Not a bad reward for something that's actually helpful to people.
FARTING IN PUBLIC IS CALLED 'PRODUCING MORE ENERGY'?
“When you look at diesel, you have to look at Russia and Ukraine,” Duffy said. “Russia was a major exporter, the second-biggest exporter in the world, on diesel. They stopped their exports, so that puts pressure on the global market. But President Trump has pushed American energy dominance, we are producing more energy now than in the past.”
I like TOOL, but they got too off and on again for me to follow. If they ever put out another album, I won't buy it.
They used to be mysterious, and people felt privileged to see them in concert. I saw them live and liked it it but was ultimately bored.
They used to tour on a rare basis because they were TOOL, but I have noticed over the years that they tour as a support band these days, What happened?
I think their reign ran its course. Personally, I listen to TOOL and love the songs, but feel like it's pretty self indulgent and pouty lyrically.
And now they hitch on to festival shows without being the headline.
This reminds me of a particular time in my life. Things were fucked up, but I got through it. So I am zen with it. It resonated then and still does now Great song.
Johnson is terrified of keeping the House of Representatives open for any length of time. He's afraid of a GOP rebellion as much as he's afraid of a Democratic takeover of the House.
One thing we can’t do during the next Democratic admin is keep a bunch of Republicans in jobs they would never allow a Democrat to hold if they could avoid it. Creates terrible incentives.
For example: did you know every Director in the FBI’s hundred-year history was a Republican? All of them. 🧵 1/9
"Kennedy’s HHS now has more political appointees than any other department, including much larger ones such as Defense and Justice. It has hired 264 non-Senate confirmed political appointees as of June...."
Let's stipulate, not just any skills, but a very particular set of skills. Skills acquired over a very long career. Skills that make the possessor a nightmare for people like those in the current regime.
Kennedy's policies are killing people. That's the whole point of ruining the civil service. Even the idea of civil service. To keep implementing terrible policies.
We need a more representative democracy with proportional representation (if a party gets 30% of the vote, it gets 30% of the seats). It would end gerrymandering and elect more diverse representatives!
"[w]hich is why you gotta pass the referendum and not elect Republicans." Something so many of my fellow Missourians can't seem to grasp. They want All the Nice Things, but then vote for these raging assholes. You can't have it both ways!
Kittehs having Nice Time.
https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!jHNu!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fmedia_upload%2Fcomment%2Faa1eef3e-a8c4-4f63-a641-fe1ba289102c%2F89f67d7d-5561-402c-86ff-4ad750b60016.jpeg
Snoozin' on Dad's chair, with tyrannical-grade cuteness, I see. As the Senior Crew blocks access to the computer. All in a day's work!
I just cannot understand what these maga morons are getting from this administration.
Dirtier water? Check
More expensive healthcare? Check
Contaminated food? Check
Expensive gas? Check
Higher rents? Check
Unaffordable housing? Check
Restrictions on women and minorities? Check
Illegal war in Iran costing 1 BILLION dollars of taxpayer money per day? Check
Rising farm bankruptcies?
Check.
Honestly these imbeciles deserve everything that happens to them.
Wife and I signed the petition. They knew where to find lefty troublemakers, at the library.
We’ve worked tirelessly for a full year facing bureaucratic barriers and ugly opposition meant to stop us, all the while believing in our constitutional right to referendum, the rule of law and the clarity of our state’s constitution! Now we’re telling every voter in Missouri who’ll listen, VOTE NO ON PROP A!!!
Help us get the word out: https://www.mobilize.us/pnpmo/
https://substack.com/profile/5870326-appalachian-in-thailand/note/c-330859546?r=3htkm
OT, but a good example of how ‘Murrica is totally in step with the rest of the world.
This past week the UN agreed 164 to 1 to support the “Equal Earth” map of the planet. This map, developed in 2018, corrects the ridiculous size imbalances of the Mercator projection (developed in and used since 1569), where countries closer to the Poles appear much larger than countries closer to the Equator. Consider Greenland, which on the Mercator projection is approximately the size of the entire continent of Africa, when in reality it is 1/14th the size. There is something of a tradeoff in shapes, because if countries stretch north and south a long way they need to fit with their adjoining countries. But the cartographers who developed Equal Earth worked very hard to maintain shapes and relative positions where they could, so it looks quite similar to what people are used to.
The Mercator map had legitimate reasons behind it: to allow sailors to chart straight-line courses based on compass headings, and to show relative latitudes north-south.*But more recently it has been seen as supporting the concept that the global north is bigger and more important, and the south is smaller and less significant. You get one guess as to which country on the whole planet voted against the UN resolution. “That’s stupid, look how small they show Greenland and Canada; why would I want to own them if they were that tiny?!?”
Here’s a good page you can flip back and forth and see the difference between the two maps.
https://map-projections.net/compare.php?p1=equalearth&p2=mercator-84
* For any cartographic or seafaring or just general nerds out there who want to understand some of the challenges of early navigation I recommend the book “Longitude” by Dava Sobel.
Thank you so much for the link. Actually seeing the maps, I was surprised at how different things are. We do see photographs taken from space, but somehow the maps being off doesn't register - at least for me it didn't.
Henlo Wonkets - I had been debating donating plasma again because 1. extra money and 2. societal good. Then I got a message about a "welcome back" bonus. So I went twice this week and got $180, and if I go twice next week I get another $200.
Not a bad reward for something that's actually helpful to people.
Most excellent! AB+s unite!
I'm a boring old O+ - we're like 40% of the population, I think?
Good on you.
Vampires couldn't sell it better.
FARTING IN PUBLIC IS CALLED 'PRODUCING MORE ENERGY'?
“When you look at diesel, you have to look at Russia and Ukraine,” Duffy said. “Russia was a major exporter, the second-biggest exporter in the world, on diesel. They stopped their exports, so that puts pressure on the global market. But President Trump has pushed American energy dominance, we are producing more energy now than in the past.”
It's all the hot air they're producing from their lies and bs.
The movie is over if you'd like to join us there for OT.
I may have a late score from tonight's match.
Have they figured out who the killer is over on Clue, yet?
My money's on Clark monster.
Trump, in the Ballroom, with a flagpole.
Of all the things I dared not imagine...
With a Sharpie
In a thong.
You happy now?
Hmmmm. Budgie Smuggler?
Hour and 37 minutes, it says.
It was you, with the plumb pudding.
Plumb or plum? Let's ask Donnie!
Lead us not into temptation (or Christmas desserts).
Christmas Cake from the turn of the century is over there on the sideboard.
Figgy pudding.
Bob's favorite.
No sign of ziggy, so nope.
L'il Feller claims to have an indisputable alibi.
Li'l Feller gets the last word on most things, when he deigns to opine.
Area 51.
I like TOOL, but they got too off and on again for me to follow. If they ever put out another album, I won't buy it.
They used to be mysterious, and people felt privileged to see them in concert. I saw them live and liked it it but was ultimately bored.
They used to tour on a rare basis because they were TOOL, but I have noticed over the years that they tour as a support band these days, What happened?
I think their reign ran its course. Personally, I listen to TOOL and love the songs, but feel like it's pretty self indulgent and pouty lyrically.
And now they hitch on to festival shows without being the headline.
I don't do this often, but for my friend Blue who checked in on me with a tune:
Gerry Rafferty - "Baker Street"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tynWSAesAo&t=2s
when i first moved to seattle, i listened to this a LOT.
This reminds me of a particular time in my life. Things were fucked up, but I got through it. So I am zen with it. It resonated then and still does now Great song.
Thank you, GB!
: )
My pleasure.
I adore Baker Street. And the cat song.
Year Of, or In The Cradle?
Year of.
Looking forward to your boy McGovern getting fired up in the House going into November.
Provided, of course, Mikey hasn't decapitated himself with recesses at that point.
Johnson is terrified of keeping the House of Representatives open for any length of time. He's afraid of a GOP rebellion as much as he's afraid of a Democratic takeover of the House.
So what you're saying is that he loses either way. I'll happily buy that.
Doug Lindner
@douglindner.bsky.social
Follow
One thing we can’t do during the next Democratic admin is keep a bunch of Republicans in jobs they would never allow a Democrat to hold if they could avoid it. Creates terrible incentives.
For example: did you know every Director in the FBI’s hundred-year history was a Republican? All of them. 🧵 1/9
James Goodwin
@jamesgoodwin.bsky.social
· 4h
"Kennedy’s HHS now has more political appointees than any other department, including much larger ones such as Defense and Justice. It has hired 264 non-Senate confirmed political appointees as of June...."
That's bad. That's not good.
The eventual fumigation of the executive branch is going to require some serious dedication and skills.
Let's stipulate, not just any skills, but a very particular set of skills. Skills acquired over a very long career. Skills that make the possessor a nightmare for people like those in the current regime.
"keep a bunch of Republicans in jobs they would never allow a Democrat to hold"
No. Anybody who still registers Republican is clearly an idiot and should be banned from any position of responsibility greater than shit shoveler.
Get rid of ALL of the MAGA appointees, and have a plan day one to FILL them all. None of this vacant/acting/has-3-jobs BS.
Kennedy's policies are killing people. That's the whole point of ruining the civil service. Even the idea of civil service. To keep implementing terrible policies.
https://youtu.be/qxOAhsngMyc?si=hhlJlb2ACpWPZtC5
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