May I see a show of hands of anyone who can guess why this entry is late? If you guessed “a primary election,” you win a prize. It is my heavy-lidded presence right here.
It wasn’t that the work was so bad, but the information-packing of one’s own head, of reading take after take and analysis after analysis. After a while, I feel like Lucy and Ethel in front of the candy conveyer belt, and I have to go watch Israelis and Palestinians battle to the death on “Fauda.”
Fortunately, I have so, so many links to share.
First, a subsection on the internet and its peculiarities, starting with an interesting but not-followed-by-anyone-else explanation of how the Al Franken story spread so quickly and seemed to have grassroots momentum in calling for his exit from the Senate, when in fact? It didn’t:
While everyone has been focused on Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election to support Donald Trump, the Franken take-down originated in—and was propelled by—a strategic online campaign with digital tentacles reaching to, of all places, Japan. Analysts have now mapped out how the initial accusation against Franken by Hooters pinup girl and lad-mag model Leeann Tweeden was turned into effective propaganda after first being hinted at by right wing black ops master Roger Stone.
A pair of Japan-based websites, created the day before Tweeden came forward, and a swarm of related Twitter bots made the Tweeden story go viral—and then weaponized a liberal writer’s criticism of Franken. The bot army, in tandem with prominent real live human right-wingers with Twitter followers in the millions, such as Mike Cernovich, spewed thousands of posts, helping the #frankenfondles hashtag and the “Franken is a groper” meme effectively silence the testimonies of eight former female staffers who defended the Minnesota Democrat before he resigned last year.
The best argument for studying computer science is being prepared for this bullshit. Of course Roger Stone is up to his neck in it.
On a related but more technical note, J.C. sent along this piece on “the bullshit web,” i.e. the graphics-and-code-laden websites that take forever to load, even with a fast connection and a middle-aged computer:
Take that CNN article, for example. Here’s what it contained when I loaded it:
- Eleven web fonts, totalling 414 KB
- Four stylesheets, totalling 315 KB
- Twenty frames
- Twenty-nine XML HTTP requests, totalling about 500 KB
Approximately one hundred scripts, totalling several megabytes — though it’s hard to pin down the number and actual size because some of the scripts are “beacons” that load after the page is technically finished downloading.
The vast majority of these resources are not directly related to the information on the page, and I’m including advertising. Many of the scripts that were loaded are purely for surveillance purposes: self-hosted analytics, of which there are several examples; various third-party analytics firms like Salesforce, Chartbeat, and Optimizely; and social network sharing widgets. They churn through CPU cycles and cause my six-year-old computer to cry out in pain and fury. I’m not asking much of it; I have opened a text-based document on the web.
My own beloved MacBook Air is now about four years old, and I can already see signs of this happening to it. It’s the best, fastest computer I’ve ever owned (although I guess you can say that about every new one, right?), but on a night like Tuesday, when I have about a million tabs open, the fans start roaring and I have to go through one by one and shut most of them down, usually because a Pampers ad is playing on a loop.
Anyway, that’s one for you computer geeks.
Speaking of graphics, here’s another one of those juicy NYT data presentations on the average age of first-time motherhood, county by county. There are several maps; note how the age rises with education and income. Fascinating look at the demographics of a significant milestone in almost everyone’s life.
And at the other end of the reproductive arc, also from the NYT, the gift of menopause:
I was never a woman who turned heads, but menopause has made me invisible, and I love being invisible. Why did I ever care if strangers thought I was pretty? Worse, why didn’t I think I was pretty at an age when everyone is pretty? “Oh, how I regret not having worn a bikini for the entire year I was 26,” wrote Nora Ephron in “I Feel Bad About My Neck.” “If anyone young is reading this, go, right this minute, put on a bikini, and don’t take it off until you’re 34.”
I don’t know if it’s menopause or simply aging, but time’s winged chariot has freed me from bikinis, among other things. Life is full of obligations that can’t be shirked, but always there are “obligations” I’m not obliged to do. No, I don’t want to sit on that panel. No, I don’t want to attend that fund-raiser. No, I don’t want to go to that party. The days are running out, faster and faster, and I have learned that every yes I say to something I don’t want to do inevitably means saying no to something that matters to me far more — time with my family, time with my friends, time in the woods, time with a book.
It doesn’t really have a larger point, but it’s a pleasant read, and I know we have a lot of ladies here who’ve gone through the big M. I like being invisible, too. Most days.
I was hoping to keep you-know-who out of my head for a few hours, but he keeps opening the hole in his own, and so we must note the dumber things he says. The stuff about how the fires in California, something something, the water being dumped into the ocean? Like, we could put those fires out if only we had enough water? Er, not true. What’s more, he got this idea from? Alex Jones.
Finally, an elegant little essay about the latest Deplorable picture taken at a Trump rally.
Read it if you like. I’m going to put dinner on.
jcburns said on August 8, 2018 at 9:51 pm
Here’s how fast a text-only version of CNN.com can be. (This version is just perfect for rural, sluggish, something-less-than-one-bar connectivity in places like, well, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.) Zoom zoom!
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LAMary said on August 8, 2018 at 11:19 pm
That tweet about the fires here really got to me and I shouldn’t let it. I take it personally. The fucking climate change deniers are blaming people directly impacted by climate change for the catastrophic effects of climate change.
The president gets his information from Alex Jones, a truly disgusting man.
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alex said on August 8, 2018 at 11:24 pm
Franken’s offense always struck me as horseplay rather than the kind of malevolent behavior exhibited by Harvey Weinstein, Charlie Rose or Matt Lauer. Knowing that his downfall was orchestrated by Roger Stone just makes me fucking livid.
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Sherri said on August 8, 2018 at 11:33 pm
The bullshit web is why I use an ad blocker, not because of the ads per se but because of all the trackers and scripts and pop ups that make the web unusable.
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David C. said on August 9, 2018 at 6:15 am
I took the rather be Russians photo as a warning to incels. Quit being such assholes or you’ll grow old looking like that.
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Suzanne said on August 9, 2018 at 8:56 am
I tell you what, I never in all my life thought I’d see the day when the same people who used to say, “Better dead than Red” now wear shirts that say “I’d rather be Russian than Democrat.” Never ever thought I’d see it. Delusional people all the way around.
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Suzanne said on August 9, 2018 at 9:11 am
Also, I might add, I, too, am a great fan of menopause. It’s so great to plan a vacation and never once think about the dates other than if we can get time off work and if we can book flights on the dates we want. Freedom!
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4dbirds said on August 9, 2018 at 9:20 am
I’m invisible and I love it.
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Judybusy said on August 9, 2018 at 9:34 am
I am working on becoming more visible at age 53. Not because of some ego thing, but increasing my advocacy and my voice to elevate the perspective of those who do get ignored. That includes older women–I find the comments appreciating invisibility a bit ironic, because one of the women’s studies classes I took included the naming of the problem of being ignored by society as soon as we’re not valued for our looks. Now, I know all the women who have commented here don’t tolerate bullshit, and are outspoken. I would like to hear more about exactly what kind of invisibility we’re talking about here.
I completed my election judge training last night. Our county does a great job, I think. I feel prepared for our primaries on Tuesday. The head judge had also gotten in touch with me to ask if I had questions. I talked to her as I slowly made my way through downtown: Queen Bey and Jay-Z were in concert and a 13-minute drive became 40. I’ve loved seeing my friends’ celebratory pics on my FB feed!
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Jenine said on August 9, 2018 at 9:34 am
@JCB: thanks for the headline link only version of cnn!
Currently working on my own meno. I enjoy feeling more confidence and having fewer fucks to give. But I am often hot and lately shedding hair in an ominous way. I’ve been out of the male gaze target for a long time so that doesn’t feel new.
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FDChief said on August 9, 2018 at 9:51 am
The Quisling thing…that’s a problem.
The U.S. was designed to be run by and for wealthy white men with the aid of modestly-wealthy (and some not-wealthy) white men. Enough of the structural system remains that it can produce a Trump if everything falls out a certain way.
And now we have a significant number of the sort of people that the system was designed to favor who are perfectly willing to burn the thing down and dynamite the foundations rather than accept that they may not continue to have that favored position anymore.
And we have a corporatized “news” that refuses to either publicize that or in most cases even refuse to acknowledge that it exists, and insists in trying to normalize the most insane positions that the quislings take.
In a sane polity these sorts of people would be like pedophiles; shunned with horrified disgust. They would no more be capable of achieving political power than the president of the La Cienaga chapter of NAMBLA.
The U.S., however, is no longer a sane polity.
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Sherri said on August 9, 2018 at 10:22 am
I’m finally past the night sweats, which were the worst part about going through menopause for me. I haven’t noticed any thinning of the hair, but I’m almost never cold any more. I’m not sure how much of that is menopause and how much of that is that my metabolism is running pretty high.
I hear you, Judybusy, about increasing your voice; I’ve been doing the same thing in my 50s. What I enjoy is invisibility from the bullshit encounters, the male gaze. For example, there’s the friendly guy in the gym who likes to hug all the younger women. My coach had warned me about him, but he doesn’t try to hug me. He’s friendly and we chat, but I don’t have to either tolerate the hug or figure out a way to deflect it.
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Connie said on August 9, 2018 at 10:37 am
From last post’s comments. I would add that Betsy DeVos’ house on Lake Macatawa in Holland may only have three bedrooms, but there is also a very large guest house on the property.
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Icarus said on August 9, 2018 at 10:41 am
From last post’s comments. I would add that Betsy DeVos’ house on Lake Macatawa in Holland may only have three bedrooms, but there is also a very large guest house on the property.
is it possible it had more bedrooms at one time and some walls were removed to expand other rooms?
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Deborah said on August 9, 2018 at 11:09 am
At 67 I still get hot flashes, my Dr told me that is normal for some women. I hate hot and humid weather probably because of that, it didn’t used to bother me so much.
What’s really weird is when your daughter is going through menopause. I was early and so is LB, that’s common too for a mother and daughter to have a similar pattern. But boy it makes me feel ancient.
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Jeff Borden said on August 9, 2018 at 11:19 am
I’ve no intention of evolving into the stereotypical “get off my lawn” old guy, but one of the gifts of being 67 is saying no to shit you don’t really want to do.
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Maggielle said on August 9, 2018 at 11:24 am
Judybusy, I get what you’re saying, but for me, the “invisibility” aspect of getting older is that there’s an aspect of the social game that I no longer have to play if I don’t feel like it. I don’t mistake that for freedom or safety; I’m an older woman, but I’m still a woman. (I also don’t mistake it for an opportunity to opt out of social imperatives, like resistance.)
What I like is that it’s easier to talk to people, just random chatting, with girls and boys and women and men. Everybody knows I’m not in some weird reproductive competition. All the men and boys know that I know that they know that I know that neither of us is going to be asking the other one out on a date. We can just talk about stuff.
And if I go out somewhere and my “invisibility” causes me a disadvantage (like being ignored at a cafe or being edged out of the way), my age has helped me hone skills for circumventing that bullshit without sending my BP up.
I also like the casual camaraderie I feel with many, if not most, other women, even those who are younger than me. (I adore millennials, by the way, although I don’t usually try to insert myself in their conversations.) We do nice things for each other, like holding doors or letting someone with fewer items go ahead of you, or briefly entertaining a fussy child who’s in a cart ahead of you in line, or just saying “Hey, that top is a great color on you”. And I’m an older woman, so no one thinks I’m trying to sell them anything or get anything from them, or make them feel uneasy about existing.
Anyway, those are some of the things I like. Maybe I wouldn’t really characterize it as invisibility. It’s more like mustering out or being retired from some long gig which wasn’t an unrelieved nightmare, but had some weird aspects. I don’t have to do that any more. That’s just me, everybody’s MMV.
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susan said on August 9, 2018 at 11:31 am
Yeah, I really enjoyed turning down job offers when the field work (archaeology) occurred after November 1. Nope. Been there, done that, as the saying goes. Don’t want to work in that cold, half-snow, half-freezing rain, wind, short dark days. The advantages of being an old crone and the phrase that goes with it: Fuck that shit!
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Julie Robinson said on August 9, 2018 at 11:39 am
To me invisible means being free from leering glances and catcalls, not avoiding advocacy. But that freedom is wondrous, as I needed medical intervention a few times back in the day.
Anyone else also find themselves more Zen? Is it hormones or life circumstances? We’ve finally reached financial stability and no longer have kids at home (probably the two are closely related), and I’ve retired, so conflict and turmoil are also at low ebb.
My poor laptop is ancient but dammit, I hate Windows 10 so I’m trying to hold out for a better iteration. Like Sherri I use an ad blocker and if a site insists I disable it, I go elsewhere.
Agree with Jeff and Susan’s rallying cry. I’m so much better at saying no and not explaining. Is it any wonder oldsters have a rep for being cranky?
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LAMary said on August 9, 2018 at 12:54 pm
Deborah,same here with heat and humidity. I cannot handle it.
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Deborah said on August 9, 2018 at 12:58 pm
For you stargazers out there, the Perseids meteor shower is (are?) this weekend. It’s supposed to be better viewing this year because of the phase of the moon. The peak will be the 11th/12th after 2am. Can’t wait to watch from our cabin roof deck.
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FDChief said on August 9, 2018 at 2:29 pm
Pierce has a great little piece today contrasting the positions of Laura Ingraham (three guesses…) and Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez. In it he includes perhaps the single most worthwhile bit of political speech I’ve heard in the past dozen years. From AOC’s interview with Chris Cuomo:
“We write unlimited blank checks for war. We just wrote a $2 trillion check for that GOP tax cut and nobody asked those folks how they are going to pay for it. Why is it that our pockets are only empty when it comes to education or health care for our kids? Why are our pockets only empty when we talk about 100% renewable energy..? When it comes to tax cuts for billionaires and when it comes to unlimited war, we seem to be able to invent that money very easily. To me it belies a lack of moral priorities that people have right now, especially the Republican Party.”
As I’ve said here before; this nation cannot exist half-FOX and half-free. It must become all one, or all the other.
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Dorothy said on August 9, 2018 at 3:06 pm
I’m glad I read the entire menopause missive because I was already thinking in my head the angry thoughts about her being turned down to adopt a puppy because she was 56. We got Nestle last year two months before I turned 60. We’re happier every day that she’s ours. She’s become much less fearful of people since we took her twice to stay with friends when we had two trips in July. She’ll always be shy but she’s not nearly as bad as she was when we first got her.
I’ve never really been one to take b.s. off of anyone but I do realize I’m more vocal about it than I used to be. I had an email from someone higher up than I at work last Monday which I found to be condescending and insulting. Had to do with missing a deadline for approving a student’s time sheet. (A student who hadn’t worked since May 10 and I had no idea was on campus – he put in two hours in a lab and hadn’t told me. So I had not looked to approve any time sheets in that category.) Did I just ignore it or delete it without reply? Hell no. I wrote back and told him how it made me feel and even said “I’m 60 and I”m more computer savvy than many of the faculty members in my department. So your offer to help me with calendar reminders was, frankly, insulting.” I said a lot more than that and braced myself for a snappy reply, telling me I was being insubordinate (to someone I’ve never met). But instead he agreed with me that the automated email probably should be edited or changed. Hmph. Ya think?! Yeah being 60 is okay as far as I’m concerned.
We are renting a dumpster and going to start dismantling the backyard desk/porch that is looking pretty bad. I might sing a different song about being 60 come Sunday night when I’m sore, cranky and feeling like death warmed over.
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Sherri said on August 9, 2018 at 3:41 pm
If after hearing the Devin Nunez tape, you’d like to do something, you can contribute to the opponent of Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the candidate he was raising money for. She’s Lisa Brown, and I think she might have a shot to pull off the upset: https://lisabrownforcongress.com
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beb said on August 9, 2018 at 4:23 pm
The Ohio special election is getting interesting with a cache of uncounted ballots found. When I saw the headline I assumed that the GOP were up to their old tricks (this is Ohio after all where vote fraud seems common) but it turns out this cache added 200 votes to the Dem challenger.
I always thought there was some inexplicable pile-on about Al Franken. I still resent Gilliland for calling for his resignation. The plot outlined by Newsweek is so complicated that it sounds like an Infowars conspiracy which is probably why the claim hasn’t gone anywhere. Then again the Media is biased against Democrats so they’re happy about bringing down one of them.
That and what Alex said @3 — Franken’s offense seemed like horseplay, not the serious predation of a Weinstein.
I saw that article on “The bullshit web,” There was a similar article a year or so ago. So much bullshit. The worst for me are the whack-a-mole auto-playing videos. I hate videos because they are so slow to convet any real information compared to skimming a text file. And then they snap down to the side of my browser, obscuring part of the text I’m trying to read. The second most annoying are the sites that block you for using AdBlocker. F#ck’em. I don’t need to read their article anyway.
I never had a Crazy Uncle full of ludicrous conspiracy theories. Sadly it seems that our president* has filled that position for all of us.
Suzanne @6. If we had “likes” I’d like your comment.
FDChief @11– 30 years of Rush Limbaugh and Fox News has convinced a lot of middle-class Americans that our government *is* the enemy. Hence their desire to “burn it down, burn it all down.” They only think they’re rather be Russian only because they’ve never lived there.
FDChief @21 — you;re on a roll today! The government funds unlimited wars because it unified the country and therefore is a worthwhile investment. But healthcare, welfare and all that is just money out of the pockets of our wealthy overlords. That’s just a waste.
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FDChief said on August 9, 2018 at 5:45 pm
Beb;
I think the deplorables are really worse than that. They see Russia as a sort of White Man’s Paradise. You can be as evil as you want to be to ThosePeople – the darkies and wimmens and uppitty lib’ruls and homos, and the government will smile and nod. They see OUR government as tsk-tsking them when they enjoy their prankish fun, like a little playful rape, or beating a transgender person to death.
I think they picture Trump as their Putin; strong and barechestedly owning the libs so that they can enjoy owning the poor, the dark, and the phallo-impared. They’re fine with his grift so long as they get to be White Again.
Sadly, the war thing? I’m not sure it’s about nationalism per se. I think it has a lot to do with the fairly large number of people inside the Beltway who think “war works” – that is, that you can have a nice little war and it’ll make things go the way you want them. They are both Right and Center, and that helps grease the skids. And they look past things like the Philippine Insurrection, the Banana Wars, WW1, Vietnam, the Lebanon Invasions, the various Gulf Wars, and fixate on WW2, the Good War.
And Bachevich calls this war fervor “The Washington Rules” and agrees that it DOES have a lot to do with the cash-cow of armaments and armed forces. But it also has a lot to do with the people who are genuine True Believers in the efficacy of war as policy.
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Colleen said on August 9, 2018 at 6:08 pm
I went through surgical menopause a few years ago. Wish I had done it sooner, but it was never necessary until, well, it was. The only thing I have noted is that I rarely get cold anymore, and have fans in my work spaces.
Never having been a beauty, I was always a bit invisible, but I get the whole invisible as a woman of a certain age thing. I am more outspoken than I was before, but don’t waste time being offended by everything. I am better at not taking things personally (better, not perfect), and generally a kinder person.
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David C. said on August 9, 2018 at 6:30 pm
The biggest Russophiles seem to be the biggest gun-nuts too. They’d be in for a surprise if they really knew Russian gun laws are pretty much like Canada’s except maybe stricter. But RWNJs have never let the facts get in the way of a good unhinged rant.
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LAMary said on August 9, 2018 at 10:02 pm
You can barely see the sun here, much less the perseids. Lots of smoke in the air. It doesn’t smell smoky but you can taste it and it makes your eyes burn.
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Suzanne said on August 9, 2018 at 11:22 pm
Yep. The Southernization of the Midwest.
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/08/09/buckeyes-lament-what-has-happened-ohio-and-midwest
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Jeff Borden said on August 10, 2018 at 10:12 am
Wow, FDChief, you have eloquently summed up my suspicions about why Trumpistas are so smitten with Russia, a thoroughly corrupt kleptocracy with a GDP smaller than Italy and a complete dependence on fossil fuels.
I must admit to chuckling, however, at how they equate our flabby, spray-tanned, poofy-haired Orange King with Vladimir Putin. Yes, Putin is a murderous thug, but he is also an avatar of blatant, aggressive masculinity. He’s proficient at judo, plays hockey, rides horses, etc. and is clearly physically fit as his numerous shirtless photographs underscore. The thought of seeing our Orange King shirtless would result in mass projectile vomiting.
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Suzanne said on August 10, 2018 at 10:26 am
The really funny thing is that a true devout follower of Russian orthodoxy would considered an evangelical an apostate as they don’t believe in the sacraments (Eucharist as the true body & blood of Christ? Not among the Franklin Graham’s of the world) and the apostolic lineage and things like that.
But politics & racism make strange bedfellows
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ragazza said on August 10, 2018 at 11:39 am
A couple years ago I remember my one conservative FB friend saying the country needed “a strong leader” like Putin. I think that’s how they see him. Ironically, you are anything but strong if you need to kill people and cheat to stay in power.
No menopause yet for me but I am slowly becoming invisible in some ways (less catcalling!) and more visible in others, i.e., I DGAF what people think. I also especially notice how much I modified my behavior to attract/be noticed by/be acceptable to men when I was younger, something I would strongly caution women and girls of all ages to never do under any circumstances.
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Heather said on August 10, 2018 at 11:42 am
Hmm, I tried to post this but it’s not showing up so apologies if there’s a duplicate.
A couple years ago I remember my one conservative FB friend saying the country needed “a strong leader” like Putin. I think that’s how they see him. Ironically, you are anything but strong if you need to kill people and cheat to stay in power.
No menopause yet for me but I am slowly becoming invisible in some ways (less catcalling!) and more visible in others, i.e., I DGAF what people think. I also especially notice how much I modified my behavior to attract/be noticed by/be acceptable to men when I was younger, something I would strongly caution women and girls of all ages to never do under any circumstances.
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nancy said on August 10, 2018 at 11:46 am
It’s cuz you used a different name. Ragazza is your Twitter name. Here, you’re Heather.
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Jolene said on August 10, 2018 at 12:07 pm
Bill Maher had a great take on the “GOP loved Russia because they’re white” theme. Take a look.
https://deadline.com/2018/08/bill-maher-party-of-reagan-putin-race-new-rules-real-time-1202439857/
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JodiP said on August 10, 2018 at 2:16 pm
Quick hello today–thank you all so much for replying about the various shadings of invisibility and what it means to you! It’s been a good, rich conversation.
Also, thanks to the guys for just being quiet on the topic. That’s actually really supportive. (I’m a believer in reinforcing positive behavior!)
And it wouldn’t be a post by me without a book rec. Lots of info about the criminal justice system. I got to see this author and another activist, Jason Sole, speak last night at the library. Jason’s also written a book called from Prison to PhD. Powerful stuff.
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JodiP said on August 10, 2018 at 2:41 pm
Hmm, I had a longer post, but I think I refreshed before I hit submit. Anyway, thanks so much for all the discussion on visibility and the way we move in the world. Also, nice job to the men on just staying quiet. That’s actually really supportive!
Have a good weekend, all.
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Colleen said on August 10, 2018 at 5:12 pm
Apparently, your former paper has fired everyone but Kevin Leininger. Reminds me of the last episode of the Mary Tyler Moore show…
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Julie Robinson said on August 10, 2018 at 6:27 pm
This is hardly surprising. They have one page in the JG M-F with two on Saturday, and they’ve mostly been using wire service copy for those. I’d estimate six stories or editorials being written per week. Can’t say what was happening online since I’ve never accessed it.
I feel terrible for those laid off, and I feel terrible for those remaining at 600 W Main. I’m grateful Dennis got out when he did and was able to reclaim his life.
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beb said on August 11, 2018 at 12:18 am
There was an interesting article recently that argued that local governments should buy up their failing newspaper, put them in charge of a non-political committee, a support their continue existence both for transparency of government actions, keeping the community updated as to what’s happening and all the things local newspapers used to do.
https://theweek.com/articles/786750/why-city-government-should-buy-local-newspaper?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Keeping locally owned newspaper from becoming the mouthpiece of the Mayor would be the hardest point. I thought it was an intriging idea.
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Dexter Friend said on August 11, 2018 at 2:45 am
Yeah, Ben S. posted how the News-Sentinel just fired two great sportswriters from the online-only News. Shades of the purge at espn a month and a half ago.
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Suzanne said on August 11, 2018 at 9:53 am
So Leininger is the only one who keeps his job at the News-Sentinel. We sat in front of him and his wife at a concert last year. Most of their conversation was dissing the liberals. I have tried to read his editorials that are printed in the Journal Gazette but usually can’t make it all the way through. Once in a while he surprises me but rarely. They are mostly fleshed out tea party talking points.
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Sherri said on August 11, 2018 at 10:47 am
Two good articles about land use and housing and soaring real estate prices in Seattle and the Eastside suburbs. The NIMBY-PHIMBY alliance is a real thing, they both think the YIMBYs just want to hand money to developers.
https://www.economist.com/united-states/2018/08/11/booming-seattle-struggles-to-stay-affordable
https://www.seattletimes.com/business/real-estate/king-county-suburbs-slow-their-housing-growth-canceling-out-seattle-building-boom/
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basset said on August 11, 2018 at 12:26 pm
And you all know what a BANANA is…Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anybody.
I’m at Mrs B’s nursing home right now watching an occupational therapist work with her… she gets a little better every day, no go-home date set though.
Several of us brought instruments and played for the residents here yesterday… some of em are in pretty bad shape and it’s hard to tell if they like what’s going on or not but apparently they did, the unit manager said they were canceling bingo so we could play longer. Must say I’ve never had that happen before.
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Sherri said on August 11, 2018 at 12:57 pm
Better than Bingo!
Glad to hear Mrs. B is continuing to improve.
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beb said on August 11, 2018 at 3:04 pm
I’d never heard of BANANA before Bassett mentioned it. It sounds about right. I lived in an apartment for a while. On the whole it wasn’t too bad (meaning noisy neighbors) but on the whole I prefer a single family dwelling (SFD) though I hate all the maintenance involved. Still I can see there apartment buildings make a lot of sense when you are running out of places to build new SFD. Or because the commute from the SFD to work becomes onerous. I don’t understand the objection to apartment buildings as such, though I can kind of understand their fear that housing prices will go down leaving them underwater on theit mortgage.
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Deborah said on August 11, 2018 at 6:56 pm
BANANA, I hadn’t heard of that one either. I think that one of the reasons people are so oppressed to building happening near them is that so many developers look for the cheapest (so ugliest) options they can find. Hire a good architect that will work with the community, a decent developer and you might get something great in your community. Easy for me to say.
We’re in Taos for the night, staying in the Mabel Dodge Lujan House bed and breakfast. Mabel was a supporter of the arts, was instrumental in bringing Georgia O’Keefe, DH Lawrence, Ansel Adams and many more artists to NM. She inherited wealth from the Dodge family (cars) and later married a Native American chieftain here in Taos. Lujan is a big NM family name. We’re in Taos for a concert that we heard about on the radio, the Secret Sisters. We know nothing about them but it sounded like fun.
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Deborah said on August 11, 2018 at 11:46 pm
Well. The Secret Sisters turned out to be well worth the price of admission. As singing sisters often have, their voices blended beautifully. And they were hilarious.
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brian stouder said on August 11, 2018 at 11:56 pm
So, I’m rolling into the final hundred pages of the LBJ/White House tapes book (edited by Michael Beschloss), and we’re in June of 1964 (when I was 3), and the disappearance of Michael Schwerner and Andrew Goodman and James Chaney has just begun unfolding.
The president fears the worst has occurred, and somewhere along the line he speaks with James Eastland – the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee – so as to get some guidance/advice from the segregationist side of the political spectrum (sort of like our current president’s belief that there are “good people on both sides”, etc)
and the president says “Jim, we got three kids missing down there. What can I do about it?”
whereupon the senator replies “I don’t know. I don’t believe there’s three missing. I believe it’s a publicity stunt”
and then
“I’ll tell you why I don’t think there’s a damned thing to it. They were put in jail in Philadelphia is east Mississippi, right next to John Stennis’s home county, and they were going to Meridian. There’s not a Ku Klux Klan in that area. I happen to know that some of these bombings where nobody gets hurt are publicity stunts. This Negro woman in Ruleville that’s been to Washington and testified that she was shot at nineteen times is lying. Of course, anybody that gets shot at nineteen times is going to get hit”
Beschloss footnotes that Ms Fannie Lou Hamer was a field-worker for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and that she was beaten and jailed after entering a “whites only” dining room in Columbus, Mississippi; and that at other times her home was hit by gunshots.
By way of saying – the 2018 concept of “fake news” equals this moron-senator’s concept of “publicity stunt”.
On one hand, it’s somewhat re-assuring that nothing is ever really “new” or unprecedented; and on the other hand, it ‘s quite depressing to realize that gadgetry may become out-dated or obsolete, but human cruelty and small-mindedness never (ever) expires or evolves
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Dexter Friend said on August 12, 2018 at 2:36 am
Two years go,on the I-15 from Las Vegas to San Diego we stopped in Primm, Nevada at a Panda Express, my first visit, and it was the best fast-food Chinese ever. Later on, we had it in Columbus, Ohio, and it was just plain and bland. A Panda Express opened a few days ago close to home over in Defiance, so we tried it out. Plain, nearly tasteless stuff. Maybe I am just sick of all fast food.
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beb said on August 12, 2018 at 1:26 pm
Dexter, My guess is that the first Panda Express you went to was run by an actual Chinese cook while the others just followed the company recipes.
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