Yesterday’s nut – Page 28 – Today's Mighty Oak

lol u like a lil ball of information, Crane

Mike Yesterday's nut November 10, 2012

I’m taking a quick break from noveling, so let’s see what we have today:

Dutch scientists have come up with self-healing concrete, pretty awesome!

Puerto Rico voted to become a state! Sounds good to me, although Congress has to approve it and if that goes through, there is a process to statehood. I think it would be fascinating to watch that happen, although we then have to reapportion House seats and figure out a new pattern for the flag. But still, exciting!

So I guess the thing is for Republicans to move to Australia (remember, Canada got the French, Australia got the convicts and America got the Puritans), but as a reminder:

Washington State approved marriage equality, and in a cool move, the money from the new licenses goes to a charity that helps LGBT youth. Great idea!

There were so many wins in the election for the progressive side (Obama, 3 marriage equality wins, defeating 1 marriage amendment, Grayson winning his seat back, Baldwin, Warren, King, CO and WA approving marijuana, gains in the Senate, gains in the House, I think, Casey, Murdoch losing, Akin losing, and honestly even more). Check out the Good Men Project’s list. Michelle Bachmann won, but if that’s the only negative I can find, I’ll take it.

Here’s what I’ve been saying for years. We need both sides of the political spectrum to find the best solutions to our problems. We need that dialogue. And I’m hopeful that this election’s loss will bring the conservative side back towards the middle so we can have that dialogue. Rachel Maddow sums it up perfectly. Please watch this clip (the relevant part starts at 14:07, but the whole thing is good). Memorize it and force our politicians to have that dialogue between the two parties: we want everyone to win.

And another meme from the vote:

BuzzFeed shares idiotic comments from clients to creative professionals. So sad that people say things like this.

Here is the anti-Starbucks menu:

That’s it for now, I’ll be back again soon, but have a great one!

The political post: 2012

Mike Yesterday's nut November 6, 2012

I’ll be brief, I have to get back to my novel, I want to keep the lead in wordcount I gave myself this weekend. But here’s where we stand on the election.

First up, the election in two minutes:

Make no mistake, the Republican party’s tactic this year is voter suppression:

Uncertified software has been illegal installed on Ohio voting machines by the (Republican) Ohio Secretary of State
Ohio and Florida (both swing states, run by Republicans) are seeing lines of up to seven hours to vote
More on Flroida here, and sudden, last-minute changes in Ohio to make it harder to vote
And here in Pa, the Republican and Tea parties are trying to intimidate voters in african american districts.
In Arizona, robocalls are gonig to Democrats giving them wrong polling information
Parts of Seattle (which just happen to vote Democratic) don’t have any ballot drop off boxes
But voter fraud is real problem…that Republicans keep committing.
This video is just as true today as it was 30 years ago, Republicans suppress voting because they do better when less people vote:

Romney hasn’t done many endorsements, but he has done two videos, both for Senate candidates who love to talk about rape (and the apparent gift that it is). He’s also threatening to take the country hostage if he isn’t elected, or at least, he is threatening that his party will.

And if it helps, like we’ve known all along, giving tax breaks to the rich doesn’t create any jobs, it just gives more money to the rich while the middle class has to make it up.

On the lighter side of things, this isn’t from either party, but just sad. And what if we’ve all been wrong about Karl Rove, and he’s just in it for the money? And if you really want to distract yourself, find out all about what your sex life means about your political affiliations. I’m guessing that was an unscientific poll. Heh.

And just as important as everything else, four states vote on equality tomorrow:

Obviously I lean progressive. I’m not a Democrat however (nobody can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory quite like the Democratic party), I’m an Independent (and proud of it). But, I have helped two people register and learn where their polling place is tomorrow, and they have both told me who they’re voting for (and neither one is voting for Obama). I always say that I want people to be engaged and involved in their politics, and I mean it. Even if that means I have to work harder in the next election, I’m happy that even more people from my generation are getting involved. I’m glad they’re voting, they’re my best friends, and I’m proud of them, no matter how they touch the touchscreens tomorrow (can’t really say pull the levers anymore, can we?).

And as I always say, I’m hoping for a bake sale. Because I’d like some biscotti (my polling place used to do a bake sale to benefit the PTA of the school it’s in, but sadly, the last few years, it hasn’t happened).

Remember, remember (2012)

Mike Yesterday's nut

Happy Guy Fawkes Day! (one of my two annual posts):

Remember, remember the Fifth of November,

The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,

I know of no reason

Why the Gunpowder Treason

Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, ’twas his intent

To blow up the King and Parli’ment.

Three-score barrels of powder below

To prove old England’s overthrow;

By God’s providence he was catch’d

With a dark lantern and burning match.

Hulloa boys, Hulloa boys, let the bells ring.

Hulloa boys, hulloa boys, God save the King!

A penny loaf to feed the Pope.

A farthing o’ cheese to choke him.

A pint of beer to rinse it down.

A faggot of sticks to burn him.

Burn him in a tub of tar.

Burn him like a blazing star.

Burn his body from his head.

Then we’ll say ol’ Pope is dead.

Hip hip hoorah!

Don’t forget to vote tomorrow!

Mike Yesterday's nut November 5, 2012

it’s a time of great hope and as always, great fear. i call it….fope

Mike Yesterday's nut October 31, 2012

Quick update, first up, this is so awesome my face just about melted off and I want it and I’ll never ask for anything else ever again:

As many of you know, every November I write a novel as part of NaNoWriMo. November is also Men’s Health Month, and I have a bunch of friends participating in Movember. I applaud their efforts, not only because I can’t grow a mustache to save my life (sideburns are another story), but also because there are three freaking months of breast cancer awareness (February, May and October), so it’s nice to see that half the population gets one, little-known month. But Tom’s made this awesome video to celebrate:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TleMMZqF3cU

And lastly, happy Halloween from the fourth most haunted campus in the country:

“I can’t believe you like money too. We should hang out.”

Mike Yesterday's nut October 30, 2012

Let’s see, quick update for everyone. First up, I finally found a cool voter resource. Put in your address, it pulls up your choices (down to local representative) and you can send to yourself an info page including polling place. Check it out here.

Here’s a reminder for you though:

More info about it here. And Romney’s disastrous history of emergency management. And a Republican campaign manager tweeted known false information last night during Sandy, resulting in more chaos. Like yelling fire in a crowded movie theater, this may be illegal, and he’s being investigated.

And here’s a cool NYT editorial about the government’s response to Sandy

And lastly, nothing to do with politics, this awesome family circle (easier than a tree) of mythological gods.

That’s it for now, have a great one!