Friday, February 26, 2016

Weekend Reading: The Still Coughing Edition

I went to the doctor today for a previously scheduled check up, and came home with new prescriptions and a new plan for getting my asthma back under control... let's hope it works! In the meantime, I'll just be here, coughing.

Despite the weirdness of my health this week, I got a fair amount done. I don't feel too bad going into the weekend, although I think I will write myself a short list of things to do this weekend. I have a manuscript I'd like to finish editing and a couple of contracts to turn around. The price of having the freedom to take it easy this week to celebrate and recuperate is that I'll do a little work this weekend. I'm happy with that trade!

However, I will also continue to take it a bit easy, because I need to be actually back to full strength soon.

But that's neither here nor there. You're here for links, so let's get to the links.

First of all, from several different sources... here's a story about the coming of open carry to public universities in Texas.

I can't bring myself to talk much about Trump, but this article from Jamelle Bouie might make you feel a little better. I think we all need to do our part to make sure Trump isn't elected. I see no reason not to take him at his word and assume that a Trump presidency would be very dangerous to our democracy.

I think his candidacy has already wraught changes that we'll be reckoning with for awhile. I notice a much more open nature to the racism that has always been present here. Maybe it is a good thing. Maybe it will make those of us who don't usually run smack into this racism notice it more and try to fix it. Maybe we'll finally lance the boil, as it were. Or maybe we're in for a really ugly period. Or maybe both. I don't know.

And maybe we'll learn that we aren't that special, that no one thinks their country is about to slide into fascism or what not before all of the sudden it does, and that our democracy and freedom is no more guaranteed than anyone else's, and we'll think a little more carefully about what actually makes a good, fair, and free society. (Hint: it is not guns.)

Anyway, moving on.

Joan C. Walsh puts the Hillary-vs-Bernie thing in the larger context of what happens to women as they advance in their careers. It is worth your time even if you're sick of the Hillary-vs.-Bernie thing, because it will tell you more about what happens to women in general.

The graphic in this tweet is really interesting:




I lack any context for this tweet, but I love it anyway:




This is a really cool article about the interplay of sound and music in ancient churches. I want to go hear the angels' wings. When I first visited Europe and went into some of the really old churches, I was really struck by how different the atmosphere felt in them. I do not believe in God, but I was impressed by these buildings people had created to glorify God. A lot of terrible things get done in the name of religion. I think it is worth remembering that some really beautiful things get done in the name of religion, too, and that these things can have meaning even if you don't believe in the religion.

I've said it before, but I'll say it again: I share more random cool things like the above on my Annorlunda Books facebook page, if you're into that sort of thing. Also on the @AnnorlundaInc twitter account.

And that's all I have this week, because coughing. Also, politics have consumed all my feeds, and I can only take so much of that.

Happy weekend, everyone!

5 comments:

  1. I just got handed codeine for my cough and it is amaaazing. (Not suggesting it for your cough! Which is from other stuff!).

    I was just trying to decide if it's too risky to vote for Trump in the R primary (with the hope he's unelectable, of course). I just don't know how far into a dystopian novel we're going to go.

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    1. My codeine laced cough syrup is probably the only reason I've gotten any sleep for the last week!

      I came of age in Arizona at about the time we elected Evan Mecham governor. Look him up- he had some terrible beliefs. I was scarred by that... I no longer consider anyone "unelectable" and could never bring myself to vote for someone like Trump in a primary based on expecting an easier general for my candidate.

      But I understand why some people are thinking that way.

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    2. I think my fear of Trump will win out- the primary is Tuesday. Oliver North for Senate was my formative one.

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  2. Scott Walker. I watched his first governors debate and he was so moronic. Obviously the people who voted for him didn't.

    I'm sorry about your cough, it's so hard to get things done when you feel terrible. Codeine syrup makes me not sleep, because I'm weird. The thing that worked for me was a cough suppressant related to novacaine (sp?), I think it's called benzoprene? If I were home I could go look and get the name right. Little yellow miracle pills that look like vitamin D. Anyway, I hope you feel better soon.

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    1. I think I've had that in the past. The codeine's working for me this time, but I can't take it during the day (I guess I could, if I wanted to sleep all day....)

      The cough is almost better. I think that if the first doc I'd seen had given me the usual taper off on prednisone I'd be basically OK by now. She didn't, and yesterday I had to go get the taper my regular doc prescribed for me. Turns out going cold turkey off prednisone can make you very fatigued. I could hardly get out of bed by the afternoon! I'm better now.

      I mostly avoid talking politics with people in real life, because a surprising number of smart engineer types believe a surprising amount of BS on the political front. I'm trying to stick to a new rule that I don't allow racism to go unchallenged, though. Luckily, none of my friends are Trump-supporter type racists- more "young Bernie supporter" type racists: haven't ever been forced to confront the extent to which race matters, so sometimes say ignorant things.

      (Note: I know A LOT of Bernie supporters who are not in that group. I've just noticed a fair number of young Bernie supporters who are. Also, I think there are Hillary supporters who have their own race-related blind spots. And regardless, the Republicans are really winning the "we're raging racsists!" campaign this year.)

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