Shakesville

Happy (Almost) New Year's Eve!

image of Matilda, Olivia, and Sophie, the Cats of Shakes Manor, in party gear

The Cats of Shakes Manor have graciously offered to host Shakesville's New Year's Eve party.
Thank you for another great year, Shakers. By which I mean a great year at Shakesville, even despite 2016 being one aggressive fucktastrophe of a goddamned shitstorm of a relentlessly terrible year.

With a few bright spots, here and there. But all too few and far between, for a lot of us.

You have been my solace through some difficult times, and I hope this space has provided some of that to you in return. And I will try to continue to provide what comfort and safety I can in what are sure to be some dark times ahead.

I wish I had a better message on which to end this year. Then again, in an age of such divisive harm, having community is an invaluable thing.

None of us are alone. And that is a good thing in this moment.

I hope you all have a safe and happy New Year. If nothing else, at least this dumpster fire of a year is over!

See you Monday. ♥

So This Happened

Great move on delay (by V. Putin) - I always knew he was very smart!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 30, 2016

The President-elect just said that the leader of a foreign nation who personally orchestrated interference in our election is "very smart." https://t.co/nmthLuSO9k
— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) December 30, 2016

It's unclear to what "delay" Trump is referring, but it's being interpreted to mean Putin saying he won't immediately eject U.S. diplomats, as was urged by his foreign minister, in retaliation for President Obama's punitive measures against Russia.

Which is pretty terrifying. And further signals collusion. Putin says he won't hit back, because he knows it's all meaningless as soon as Trump takes office. Trump pronounces Putin a fucking genius. Both of them orchestrating against the sitting U.S. President.

Here's what a lot of people really fail to understand: Yes, Trump is an authoritarian and will be a "strongman" given the slightest opportunity, but that actually doesn't project strength to the rest of the world. To the contrary, it creates a power/leadership vacuum—which Putin knows better than anyone, and it is a vacuum he is eager to fill.

Which is why he personally orchestrated interference in the election to Trump's benefit.

As I have said before and will no doubt say again: This is not the beginning of a coup; it is the end of one.

The Jon Swift Memorial Roundup 2016

Jon Swift (aka Al Weisel), a brilliant blogger and satirist, and sometime contributor to Shakesville, used to wrap up each year by asking as many bloggers as he could contact to submit their best posts of the year for a massive roundup of awesome writing.

Weisel died in 2010, and, in his honor, Batocchio of Vagabond Scholar has continued to compile an annual Jon Swift Memorial Roundup.

Here is 2016's, and, as always, there's lots of good stuff there.

The piece I submitted this year is "Photo of the Day." I don't know that it's precisely the best thing I've written all year, but it is a piece that means an awful lot to me.

Daily Dose of Cute

image of Dudley the Greyhound asleep on the couch with his head tucked behind Matilda the Fuzzy Sealpoint Cat's butt

Literal snugglebuttz.
(Forgive the stains on the sofa. Dudley once again tore up a foot running around the backyard at a zillion miles an hour, and subsequently bled all over the place. Thank Maude for removable and washable cushion covers.)

Literal snugglebuttz. pic.twitter.com/GeinYkVFSk
— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) December 25, 2016

Video Description: Dudley the Greyhound, napping with his head smooshed between the couch and Matilda the Fuzzy Sealpoint Cat's butt, snuggles in for a deeper cuddle.

As always, please feel welcome and encouraged to share pix of the fuzzy, feathered, or scaled members of your family in comments.

A Bunch of Reading!

In case you haven't been keeping up with the goings-on at Shareblue, here's a round-up of the past few days...

Ginger McKnight-Chavers: A Black descendant of American slaves and slaveholders, I am the realest of Real Americans.

Me: Trump-Putin alliance grows, as Putin pens flattering letter to "His Excellency Donald Trump."

Tommy Christopher: Trump is building a cabinet to make good on his threat to cut 90 percent of federal regulations.

Alison R. Parker: The facts and research you need to arm yourself for the reproductive justice battle ahead.

Dianna E. Anderson: Trump picks foreign policy hawk Thomas Bossert for homeland security advisor.

Tommy Christopher: President-elect Trump recklessly usurps President Obama on Israel policy.

Matthew Chapman: Paul Ryan proposes unconstitutional rules to stymie House Democrats.

Dianna E. Anderson: Trump cannot dissolve his foundation while it is under criminal investigation.

Leah McElrath: Former Trump advisor reportedly sends letter to McCain threatening the U.S. and our military.

Me: Obama and Clinton are most admired man and woman of the year — again.

Tommy Christopher: Trump openly urges cover-up of Russian hacks that CIA says got him elected.

Me: Obama administration hits back hard against Russia for election interference.

Alison R. Parker: MSNBC blatantly advertising Morning Joe's unethical access to the Trump team.

Tommy Christopher: Trump straight-up lies about getting Sprint to create 5,000 U.S. jobs.

Alison R. Parker: Rep. Jared Huffman introduces One President at a Time Act.

Thank You, Mr. President

[Content Note: War; racism; white privilege.]

Here is a thing I wrote about my evolving feelings about President Obama over eight years, and the ways he and his presidency challenged me and taught me about myself: "What President Obama taught me in preparation for the fight against Trump."

It's a long one; I'm not even going to excerpt it, because it was, truly, eight years in the making, and I wouldn't even know which part to snip. Just head on over and settle in. I hope you enjoy it.

Open Thread

image of a red couch

Hosted by a red sofa. Have a seat and chat.
I'm starting to feel a little better. I ate some soup and everything! Woohoo! I'll be taking it easy, but hopefully will get some content up today. Thanks for all your support, Shakers. ♥

Open Thread

Hosted by a turquoise sofa. Have a seat and chat.
I am still sick as hell. So things are still going to be slow around here.

As you probably heard, Carrie Fisher died, and her mother, Debbie Reynolds died the very next day. Her last words were, "I want to be with Carrie." I'm so, so heartbroken, for their whole family, and for all the people who loved both of them.

It somehow seems fitting that I would end this year with a horrendous flu, lying on my bathroom floor, puking my guts out.

Fuck 2016.

Open Thread + Programming Note

image of a purple sofa

Hosted by a purple sofa. Have a seat and chat.
Well, I thought I would be back today, but instead I've got a horrendous stomach flu that has completely knocked me on my ass. I'll keep you posted, and I'll be back as soon as I can.

Slàinte mhor a h-uile là a chi's nach fhaic!

[Translation: "Great health to you every day that I see you and every day that I don't!"]

image of a teaspoon in a snow globe, with the words 'Happy Teaspoons to all...and to all a good fight.'

We're taking a few days off, but will be back on Wednesday, December 28, at which time we will resume your regularly scheduled abundance of political news, cute things, and sundry shenanigans.

See you then!

Unless, of course, something major happens with the clusterfuck known as the Trump Transition, in which case you may see me sooner. But I sure hope not! For all our sakes!

[My thanks to JupiterPluvius for the phrase used in the image.]

Rage. Seethe. Boil.

[Content Note: Violence; terrorism; Islamophobia.]

I'm going to need a macro to automatically insert that headline into basically every post for the foreseeable future...

Anyway. I've got a new piece at Shareblue about Donald Trump doing yet another touchdown dance after public acts of violence:

Donald Trump does not appear to care very much about victims of public acts of violence, nor about the reverberating effects his commentary might have on people who commit these acts. His primary concern, after nearly every act of public violence, has been to do a self-aggrandizing victory lap, no matter how cynically or undeservedly, about how he is always "right."

...Following the recent assassination of Russian Ambassador Andrei Karlov in Turkey and the deliberate truck crash which left 12 people dead in Berlin, Trump again chose to crow about his own genius.

Asked by a reporter if the incidents caused him "to rethink or reevaluate" his "plans to create a Muslim registry or ban Muslim immigration to the United States," Trump answered not with sympathy or sobriety, but triumphalism: "You know my plans. All along, I've been proven to be right. 100 percent correct. What's happening is disgraceful."

Trump's reflexive need to be self-congratulatory in the wake of deadly acts of violence is appalling. It is also revealing: He has been "right" only inasmuch as he is selectively commenting on terrorist acts committed by Muslims — while carefully omitting equivalent commentary on white supremacist killers like Dylann Roof or anti-choice terrorists like Robert Dear — in order to justify his Islamophobia.

That is about as far from "right," whether one means correct or decent, as it gets.

I can't believe this guy is going to be our president. I mean, I can believe it, but you know what I mean.

Shaker Gourmet

Whatcha been cooking up in your kitchen lately, Shakers?

Share your favorite recipes, solicit good recipes, share recipes you've recently tried, want to try, are trying to perfect, whatever! Whether they're your own creation, or something you found elsewhere, share away.

Also welcome: Recipes you've seen recently that you'd love to try, but haven't yet!

Daily Dose of Cute

image of Dudley the Greyhound asleep with his head on my lap

Fully asleep on my lap, with grade-A zombie eyes, lol.
As always, please feel welcome and encouraged to share pix of the fuzzy, feathered, or scaled members of your family in comments.

Film Corner: Rogue One

image of the primary cast of Rogue One

In case anyone wants to talk about Rogue One, here is a place to do it! If you haven't seen it yet, maybe skip this thread, since it will surely be full of SPOILERS.

I loved it. LOVED IT. "Rebellions are built on hope." Fuck yeah they are!

I will say, however, I wouldn't have been mad if there were two primary female characters, lolsob.

Recommended Reading

Tommy Christopher at Shareblue: In a final insult, the FBI had no probable cause for warrant that reopened email story.

Alison R. Parker at Shareblue: Michelle Obama on the need for resilience and hope.

John Hudson, Paul McLeary, and Dan De Luce at Foreign Policy: Russia missing from Trump's top defense priorities, according to DoD memo.

Tommy Christopher at Shareblue: McConnell laughably claims Russia will be "disappointed" with Trump's cabinet.

Yessenia Funes at Colorlines: Flint investigation quietly ends without new findings or policy.

Alison R. Parker at Shareblue: Obama announces ban on offshore Arctic and Atlantic Seaboard drilling.

[Content Note: War on agency] Christina Cauterucci at Slate: Poll: Women should be punished for abortions, say 39 percent of Trump voters.

[CN: War on agency] Jessica Mason Pieklo at Rewire: 2017 will be another monster year for reproductive rights battles.

[CN: Explosion; death; injury] David Agren at The Guardian: Mexico fireworks market explosion leaves at least 26 dead.

John Sharp at AL.com: Mobile official apologizes for Christmas tree at Trump rally removed from public park.

Andy Towle at Towleroad: Scientists film 'ghost shark' with retractable sex organ on its head, for first time.

[CN: Images of creepy sea critters at link] Matt Novak at Gizmodo: This deep sea fisherman posts his discoveries on Twitter and OH MY GOD KILL IT WITH FIRE (LOLOLOLOLOLOL!) (Personally, I think they're really cool.) (Your milage may vary!)

Open Thread

image of a red couch

Hosted by a red sofa. Have a seat and chat.

Question of the Day

Suggested by Shaker wordaddict: "What is your most unpopular fandom opinion that's positive?"

And the Hits Keep Coming

[Content Note: White supremacy; racist slur.]

I've got a new piece at Shareblue about Donald Trump's national security advisor, Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, meeting with the leader of the Austrian white supremacist party at Trump Tower.

Strache, whose Freedom Party was quite literally founded by leftover Nazis, is anti-Semitic, anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant, and anti-integration. The party he leads draws its core electoral support "from its racist agenda. It spearheads campaigns against migrants and asylum seekers. The FPÖ has also targeted the country's Muslim population, stirring up alarm against the so-called 'Islamisation' of Austria. In the run up to the European elections in 2014, Andreas Moelzer, a leading FPO candidate, declared that the EU was in danger of becoming a 'conglomerate of negroes.'"

As Shareblue has previously reported, Flynn shares some of these offensive and dangerously illiberal views: "Flynn has called Islam 'a cancer,' retweeted anti-Semitic content on Twitter, and promoted the work of a white supremacist who advocates IQ tests for immigrants."

Flynn is but one of a number of Trump appointees and advisors with ties to white supremacy, and but one of a number with ties to Russia.

THIS!!! IS!!! NOT!!! NORMAL!!!

It's not normal, it's not decent, and it's not acceptable. And I am filthy angry at anyone and everyone who tolerates and/or tries to normalize it.

Fat Fashion

This is your semi-regular thread in which fat women can share pix, make recommendations for clothes they love, ask questions of other fat women about where to locate certain plus-size items, share info about sales, talk about what jeans cut at what retailer best fits their body shapes, discuss how to accessorize neutral colored suits, share stories of going bare-armed for the first time, brag about a cool fashion moment, whatever.

* * *

This is, ahh, not exactly the best picture of my favorite new sweater, lol, but, in other news, I've got hair again!

image of me at my desk wearing a red and blue sweater

The sweater I'm wearing in this pic is a new favorite, which I purchased at ModCloth: "Primary, Salutary, Tertiary Cotton Sweater." One of the things I love about it is that it isn't terribly long, so it fits my short frame. Note to taller folks: It might be too short for you, especially if you're long in the torso.

Anyway! As always, all subjects related to fat fashion are on topic, but if you want a topic for discussion: Bought anything you totally love lately?

Have at it in comments! Please remember to make fat women of all sizes, especially women who find themselves regularly sizing out of standard plus-size lines, welcome in this conversation, and pass no judgment on fat women who want to and/or feel obliged, for any reason, to conform to beauty standards. And please make sure if you're soliciting advice, you make it clear you're seeking suggestions—and please be considerate not to offer unsolicited advice. Sometimes people just need to complain and want solidarity, not solutions.

Daily Dose of Cute

image of Olivia the White Farm Cat lying inside a section of the TV stand, 'waving' at me with one paw

LOLOLOLOLOLOL this cat.
As always, please feel welcome and encouraged to share pix of the fuzzy, feathered, or scaled members of your family in comments.