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Göran Johansson RIP
Yesterday after a longer illness and at just 69 years old, the former "strong man" of Gothenburg, Göran Johansson passed away. That seems like a good reason to republish this portrait of him. I took this picture on 4th October 2008 when he took part in celebrations for the 100th anniversary of Keillers Park. The picture was originally published here on 2nd October 2012. All his life, Johansson suffered from lupus (SLE), which caused his face to look swollen and red.
In his time and within Sweden Göran Johansson was one of the most well known of Swedish local politicians. He sat in the Gothenburg City Council for the Social Democratic Party for 37 years and was for 19 years the Council's Chairman – effectively the Mayor of Gothenburg. He never achieved great international recognition (though, as Wikipedia records, he was in 2008 longlisted for the World Mayor award).
Immensely popular, charismatic and effective in debate, he had the reputation of getting things done. He said of himself "If you are going to be a leader, you must want something. I could sit here and shuffle paper but then I wouldn't get anything done."
Over time, his leadership style affected the way Gothenburg politics was run, and while no one believes Göran Johansson himself was corrupt, "the Gothenburg spirit" has a corrupt, darker side that some blame him for fostering. His style also made him made enemies among some women politicians beyond and within his own party.
Nevertheless, he remains someone very many Gothenburgers looked up to, regardless of political ideology. A Book of Condolences was opened late yesterday in the City Hall for Gothenburgers to write in, and the local press reports a steady stream of visitors coming to pay their respects.
Göran Johansson's daughter Anna Johansson was recently appointed as Sweden's new Infrastructure Minister.
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Apart from Wikipedia, I also used Swedish language reports on the Swedish Radio website and Aftonbladet to write the above.
More indie authors
More indie authors (Egenutgivarna) at the Gothenburg Book Fair 2014.
The day before the Book Fair started we were setting up. Here below Helene Kolseth – author of Mål som motivera (Goals that motivate) and a member of the board of Egenutgivarna – dips into Lelle Björklund's Ett liv på driv. Behind, Tobias Åkerman and Lars Hansare are unpacking books.
During the course of the Book Fair, a number of the Egenutgivarna authors were interviewed at the stand. Below Sverker Snidare, author of Den tretonde messias (The Thirteenth Messiah) is being filmed by Mats Ekman, himself author of Growin' Leaves. In the screen of Mats' videocamera you can just make out the interviewer, Hans Hirschi.
On the final day of the Book Fair, when things had calmed down a bit a couple of fantasy authors found time to talk with one another (below). Left, Hanna Höglund, who has just debuted as an author with Ljuset som var dolt (The Light that was Hidden). Right Caroline Hurtig author of Månfolketsland (The Land of the Moon People) and Ödesguddinansval (The Choice of the Goddess of Fate).
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Tora Greve
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The last of my author portraits from this year's Gothenburg Book Fair, this is Tora Greve with her latest science fiction novel Erövaren (The Conqueror) – the first in a projected series, The Sirius Chronicles. Tora is also a textile artist and the cover of her book shows a tapestry she made as an illustration. Photo taken in front of the Liseberg waterfall across the road from the Gothia Towers hotel.
Den sista av mina författarporträtt från årets bokmässan i Göteborg, det här är Tora Greve med sin senaste science fiction-roman Erövaren – den första i en tilltänkt serie, Siriuskrönikan. Tora är också en textilkonstnär och omslaget till hennes bok visar en väv hon gjorde. Foto tagen framför Lisebergsvattenfallet tvärs över gatan från Gothia Towers Hotel.
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Tobias Åkerman
Today's indie author is Tobias Åkerman who came to the Gothenburg Book Fair to pesent his book Drömmen om ett barn (The Dream of a Child) about involuntary childlessness. Photo taken by Mölndal Stream outside the Swedish Exhibition Centre.
Dagens indie författare är Tobias Åkerman som kom till Göteborgs Bokmässan för att presentera sin bok Drömmen om ett barn om ofrivillig barnlöshet. Foto taget vid Mölndalsån utanför Svenska mässan.
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Ann-Catrin Malmlöf
Today's author is Ann-Catrin Malmlöf who is attending the Book Fair to promote her latest novel based on her own experiences as En kvinnlig konsult på upppdrag i Colombia (A Lady Consultant on Assignment in Columbia). Photo taken at the Rosenlund ferry stop.
Dagens författare är Ann-Catrin Malmlöf som deltar i bokmässan för att marknadsföra sin senaste roman baserad på hennes egna erfarenheter som En kvinnlig konsult på upppdrag i Colombia. Foto taget på Rosenlunds färjestopp.
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Lars Hansare
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Author Lars Hansare presented his novels this morning at Litteraturhuset Gothenburg in the series of breakfast presentations organised there by Egenutigvarna.
Författare Lars Hansare presenterade sina romaner i morse vid Litteraturhuset Göteborg i serien av frukostpresentationer som anordnas där av Egenutigvarna.
Support the campaign to publish My Gothenburg Days/Dagar i mitt Göteborg!
Anita Hammarstedt
Today's author is Anita Hammarstedt who is taking part in this year's Gothenburg Book Fair to promote her book Fyra generationer kvinnor (Four Generations of Women), an account of the lives and fate of four generations of women in Anita's own family over 150 years. This photo taken today in the morning sun at Korsvägen.
Dagens författare är Anita Hammarstedt som deltar i årets bokmässan i Göteborg för att marknadsföra sin bok Fyra generationer kvinnor, en historia om livet och öden i fyra generationer kvinnor i Anitas egen familj under 150 år. Detta foto tagit i dag i morgonsolen vid Korsvägen.
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Of used cars and more used shuttles
I have a 1997 Jeep Wrangler. It is a good car that rarely gets driven because it guzzles gas. Sometimes though, when the weather is clear and I have no care for the status of my hair, my Jeep and I hit the road at high speeds. He (my jeep is a male named Sebastian) was my first major car purchase, and was my companion going to horse shows, to dog parks, on observing runs, on 4 different cross country moves, and through a lot of thick and thin.
Yesterday my jeep's check engine light came on, and as it humped and bucked its way done the road, hesitating and then, um, not, I knew my jeeps time had come – it needed a its first major repair.
Today I took my jeep to the shop where it now awaits diagnosis.
I love my jeep, but I recognize it is reaching the point where I probably shouldn't go on couple hundred mile road trips unless I'm prepared to get towed at some point. I recognize one day my clutch will go, and where ever I am, I will stay.
But, in general I'm mostly safe (it is a jeep – completely safe isn't an option). And I'm willing to make repairs as needed because my jeep is right now the only thing I have to carry large objects (like plants and telescopes). I need it. I put up with the dangers and setbacks so I can get things done.
The United States as a space shuttle set. The youngest, Endeavour, is 5 years older than my Jeep and has a whole lot more miles under its belt. When it rides its external tank into space it is essentially a car being towed by the gravel truck. It can hope not to get hit, but, well, gravel and foam both like to dent vehicles. These spacecraft are old, they have issues, and sometimes they are going to need major repairs. But they are what we have, and they are mostly safe (they are after all space craft – they can't be completely safe). The astronauts know, one of these days they might take it to orbit and need to find a different way to come back down. That's what it means to have an old vehicle.
When we see the space shuttle stuggling it is easy to say, NASA NASA NASA in a Jan Brady voice. But, we are the ones who elect the senators who decide what NASA can and can't do. We are the ones who elect the representatives who cut funding and mandate missions. We are the ones who elect presidents who, well, go read Bad Astronomy, he says I what I feel quite well…
I drive an old car by choice.
If you were driving the space shuttle, what type of a choice would you want to see made?
8 Comments
We, the unwilling, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, for so long, with so little, we are now qualified to do anything with nothing. – Mother Theresa
The problem with the 'do more with less' philosophy of management is that it inevitably leads to asking your charges to 'do the impossible with nothing'. Having big goals (like returning to the moon) is alright, but not when the big goal comes at the expense of sacrificing the funding for just about every other mission that NASA has ongoing.
NASA would benefit from:
* not having political hacks in the upper echelons, but rather having experienced managers who can plan in the long term.
* a budget that is not revised every year based on the politics of the party in power at that moment.
* a clear mandate on it's mission.
Oh, by the way, I see the problem. Your dogma is about to jump out of your karma.
Don't tell anyone,
but any government especially the US could (CAN) spend money on whatever it sets its mind too, but there are too many fools that come up with silly political and economic arguments.
Did anyone ever ask how much World War II was costing, and/or who would pick up the tab/cheque or bill.
Aren't Jeeps supposed to run for ever. If you think about it the US destroys more cars in one movie, than the whole annual budget of some smaller film studios. In fact in some movies I've seen them wreck better cars than yours. Here we tend to use a car like yours give it a paint job and pretend it is a new one. I guess the rules of general relativity & special relativity apply even to the shuttle. It is not the being stuck up there waiting for the next BUS that is so bad, it is the getting in and not knowing for sure it will not burn up pn tale off or reentry, that would worry me.
Seems a shuttle ride really is becoming a hame of Russian Roulette. You'd think by now we would have built shuttles that could make it to the Moon and back – just because we can can.
I feel your pain. Really I do. My "Astro-van" died a few months ago and I set out to find a replacement. Consumer Reports rated Toyotas & Hondas as the most reliable and (I hate to break it to you) Jeeps were rather low on the reliability list.
I ended up getting a Honda Element because it had the most room for hauling my 10″ Orion Atlas 10. The Toyota built Scion xB had almost as much room and better mileage. As astronomy happens at the end of long rough roads with ruts & potholes, I'm glad for the extra ground clearance.
As for our anti-science administration, I think we owe it to our country to increase our EPO efforts. Maybe a more enlightened electorate will vote more intelligently.
Richard B. Drumm
Hopefully you are back on the road by now, but if not have them check the engine temperature sensor. Sebastian's symptoms sound similar to what my 94 Wangler (a girl named Artemis) was going trough a few years years back. It took several trips to the mechanic and couple hundred in fixing red herring problems to finally find it.
We've finally noticed how expensive the Shuttle is. It makes Saturn V's look cheap. Amazing but unaffordable. That's why it's getting retired. We still fly 1950's vintage B-52's. The deal is that B-52's are cheap to build, and cheap to fly. You can keep on flying them with constant inspections, and then actually fix them when you notice that they need it.
My low mileage car has 197,000 miles. It's a 2000. My '88 Mazda has the record – 295,000. I didn't see how i could replace it – it was getting 37 MPG. But my Saturn is getting 44.
My Mazda could do over 120 MPH. Your Wrangler should be aweome off road. But i used my Mazda to put the boat in the water, and you…
Just the type of inshigt we need to fire up the debate.
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text:
It's best to pack as lightly as possible for your safari, but there are some items that you definitely shouldn't leave behind!
Probably the most important of all is:
Neutral-coloured clothing
Elephants don't love neon brights; khaki is still very much in vogue in the South Luangwa!
Also make sure the following are tucked safely into your bag:
High-factor sun screen
Sun hat
Insect repellent
Personal medication including malaria tablets
Warm clothing for morning and night drives
Comfortable walking shoes
Camera and batteries
Plug adaptor for British three square prong socket
Binoculars (useful but you can always borrow ours!)
A little extra cash for curios, bar etc.
You will also need to arrange your own travel insurance before you begin your safari. We'll ask you to send us details of your insurance provider ahead of your arrival.


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Aired On
How To Stay Young And Useful All Your Life
Look on Dr. Stanley's desk and you'll find a sticky note that says, "You're young and useful at any age, if you're still planning for tomorrow." It's a principle that's guided him through decades of productive service. Learn several other key principles to living a life marked by vitality and fruitfulness. Regardless of your age, it's never too late to start trusting God and growing young.
Also this week: The Key To Continuing Peace
More In This Series
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A Call to Prayer
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A Cry For Comfort
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A Heart for God - A Vision for the World
Do you have a heart for God? If so, you are compelled to share the good news of salvation with a lost and dying world.
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It's not too late for revival, but repentance must come first.
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Learn how to persevere with the help of the Holy Spirit.
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Pray like He's God, and as if He's listening—because He is.
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Encouragement is not a luxury; it's a necessity.
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No matter what you face in life, you never have to endure it alone.


text:
Top News:
Jerry Beach / UPI:
Torrid start puts Mets in spot where Nationals expected to be — During spring training, plenty of people would have found it plausible that six games would separate the New York Mets and Washington Nationals by April 16. But few would have expected the Mets to be the ones off to the fast start.
Discussion: Federal Baseball
John Harper / New York Daily News: Mets have perfect chance to increase lead over Nationals after showing resolve in win over Brewers
John Healy / New York Daily News: Brandon Nimmo continues impressive start to season, goes 3-for-5 with a home run in Mets' win over Brewers
John Healy / New York Daily News: Mickey Callaway explains questionable decision to pinch-hit Jay Bruce for catcher Tomas Nido …
Larry Fleisher / UPI:
Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton faces Marlins for first time — NEW YORK — The last time Giancarlo Stanton appeared at Yankee Stadium, he was getting booed loudly for making the last out of a frustrating loss to the Baltimore Orioles by striking out for the fifth time.
Pete Caldera / Daily Record: Yankees keeping an eye on Gleyber Torres' progress
Pete Caldera / Daily Record: With Derek Jeter, Giancarlo Stanton says there's no bad blood on his part
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News: Gleyber Torres continues to rake at Triple A, but Yankees may want to give prospect more time in minors
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Martinez overwhelms Reds, sends Cardinals to rare sweep in Cincy — CINCINNATI • For a team looking to sweep a hapless opponent and flex the many, varied ways it needs to be able to win to contend it helped the Cardinals on Sunday to have a pitcher with many, varied, and downright wicked ways to get outs.
Scott Springer / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds wrap up miserable home stand with 3-2 loss to St. Louis Cardinals
Cincinnati Reds wrap up miserable home stand with 3-2 loss to St. Louis Cardinals
Discussion: Viva El Birdos
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Gyorko launches homer in rehab work, could return to Cardinals soon
Scott Springer / Cincinnati.com: Cincinnati Reds Manager Bryan Price preaches patience amid frustration
Doug Stewart / FOX 61:
Red Sox extend best start in 118-year history, beat O's 3-1 — Missing Attachment Missing Attachment Missing Attachment Missing Attachment Missing Attachment Missing Attachment Missing Attachment — BOSTON (AP) — Andrew Benintendi got three hits and the Boston Red Sox extended the best start …
Discussion: Associated Press and Dan Shaughnessy Watch
Bob Nightengale / Des Moines Register:
Shohei Ohtani's start postponed after MLB first planned to play through 30-degree weather
Shohei Ohtani's start postponed after MLB first planned to play through 30-degree weather
Discussion: Royals Review, USA Today and MLB Baseball News …
Bob Nightengale / USA Today: The Shohei Ohtani Show hits Kansas City, where admirers - and challenges - await
Alan Eskew / UPI:
Ohtani on mound for Angels again vs. Royals
Ohtani on mound for Angels again vs. Royals
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …, baseballmusings.com and Royals Review
Ryan Landreth / Royals Review: Sunday Thread: Angels at Royals (game postponed)
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
McGee welcomes tributes to Robinson — St. Louis Cardinals instructor Willie McGee (center) talks with a group of players at a base sliding work station during St. Louis Cardinals spring training on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018, in Jupiter, Fla. Photo by Chris Lee, firstname.lastname@example.com
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Preview: Cardinals at Cubs — • The Cardinals were 1-8 at Wrigley Field last year but led or were tied in the sixth inning or later in every game but one. The one game the Cardinals won at Wrigley they actually trailed 3-2 going into the eighth before scoring nine runs.
Discussion: Associated Press
Teddy Greenstein / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs' Anthony Rizzo set to return in the cold against sizzling Cardinals
Cubs' Anthony Rizzo set to return in the cold against sizzling Cardinals
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks at Los Angeles Dodgers … LOS ANGELES -Diamondbacks right-hander Taijuan Walker landed on the disabled list on Sunday, but the tone around the team continues to be more upbeat than normal as it relates to a pitcher dealing with an arm injury.
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks at Los Angeles Dodgers
Arizona Diamondbacks at Los Angeles Dodgers
MLB Baseball News, Scores, Standings …:
Kershaw earns first win as Dodgers cruise past Diamondbacks
Kershaw earns first win as Dodgers cruise past Diamondbacks
Discussion: True Blue LA
Craigminami / True Blue LA: Kershaw delivers when Dodgers needed it
Associated Press:
Rookies Lucchesi, Villanueva carry Padres past Giants 10-1 — SAN DIEGO (AP) - The rebuilding San Diego Padres have made up two spots in the NL West in two games, thanks largely to two rookies. — Joey Lucchesi struck out nine in six innings, Christian Villanueva homered …
Discussion: Gaslamp Ball
Darklighter / Gaslamp Ball: Padres beat Giants a billion to one
Bill Center / UPI:
Padres hold rare NL West lead entering series with Dodgers — There aren't any firsts happening at Petco Park on Monday when the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres open a three-game series. — But there are a couple of things going on that haven't happened in so long that they qualify as near firsts.
Associated Press:
Baseball notebook: Brewers' Thames suffers leg injury — Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Eric Thames winced after taking a pitch in the first inning Sunday, on the road against the Mets on a cold day, and was removed in the middle of the third after striking out for the second time in the game.
Andrew Wagner / UPI:
Brewers eager to get indoors to face struggling Reds — It will be cold and still snowing Monday night when the Milwaukee Brewers begin a three-game series with the Cincinnati Reds. — Thanks to the roof over Miller Park, weather delays like the ones that plagued Cincinnati on Sunday will not be a concern.
Mark Didtler / Associated Press:
Rays keep sliding at home as Phillies roll to 10-4 win — Aaron Altherr hit a three-run homer, Scott Kingery had a three-run double and the Philadelphia Phillies won their sixth in a row, topping the Tampa Bay Rays 10-4 Sunday. — Kingery's two-out drive off the center field wall capped …
Discussion: DRaysBay
Jared Ward / DRaysBay: Phillies 10, Rays 4: Hello Darkness My Old Phriend
Associated Press:
MLB notes: Six more games postponed because of inclement weather — Six more Major League Baseball games were wiped out Sunday, running this season's total number of postponements to 21 in only 2 1/2 weeks. It's baseball's highest number through the end of April since it had 26 in 2007 …
Associated Press:
A's snap Mariners' 4-game winning streak — SEATTLE (AP) - Sean Manaea pitched seven strong innings and Jed Lowrie hit an early two-run homer off Felix Hernandez to lead the Oakland Athletics over the Seattle Mariners 2-1 on Sunday. — Oakland avoided a series sweep as Manaea (2-2) gave up just two hits and struck out four.
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …, Associated Press, Athletics Nation and Lookout Landing
Associated Press:
Colon working on no-hitter in 8th for Rangers vs Astros — HOUSTON (AP) — Bartolo Colon has walked Carlos Correa leading off the eighth inning, the first baserunner allowed by the Texas Rangers right-hander against the World Series champion Houston Astros. — The 44-year-old Colon is still working on a no-hitter Sunday night.
Discussion: Lone Star Ball
ghostofErikThompson / Lone Star Ball: 6-11 - Bartolo Colon was nearly perfect as Rangers take series with 3-1 win


text:
Democratic Talking Point Oracle Appears as Vaginal Schematic
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Democratic Talking Point Oracle #2
I spent the past weekend helping out with a local Pet Adoption clinic (an absolute success, by any standard) when, shagged out from striking the tents and tables, I was approached by an apparition in the form of a Schematic Drawing of a Vagina (SDV). The SDV wavered slightly in the breeze, then bid me follow her (presumably "her") to a nearly empty Coffee House closer to the Los Angeles River. It was there, while I drank some Bolivian Fair Trade Dark Roast and she toyed with her Vinegar and Water Frappe that she relayed to me the second list of Democratic Talking Point Instructions. I was all ears. Sort of.
I was nervous at the beginning of our chat, trying not to stare, looking for typos in her text, but she put me at ease, talking at length about how to save the country from those who would strip women of sovereignty over their own bodies. She spoke so rapidly I was barely able to come up for air. One of my neighbors saw us, but I assured him that the SDV and I were just good friends. He rolled his eyes so hard one of them popped out. Serves him right.
SDV: What strikes me as a mistake is for Democrats to allow the discussion to continue to be framed by conservatives. "Pro-Life" is only pro-life for a fetus, not the mother, and not the grown child, who can be shipped off to kill people without so-called "Pro-Life" supporters batting an eyelid. Call them "Pro-War on Women."
MJS: Did you just bat an eyelid?
SDV: No.
MJS: Well, you batted something...
SDV: Try to concentrate here. I only have a few minutes.
MJS: Well, if it wasn't an eyelid...
SDV: Stop being childish. Do not refer to those who wish the government to control women's reproductive organs as "Right-to-Life" people. They're not. They are something else, so call them something else, not to be didactic, but to be precise. Do you understand what I'm saying by calling legislators who are working to make abortion illegal "Pro War on Women?" Describe, in graphic detail, what is meant by those who would outlaw legal, safe abortions.
MJS: Are you sure it wasn't an eyelid?
SDV: Last chance, jivester, before I make a scene. Follow me?
MJS: Yes, sorry.
SDV: Be graphic in your discussion of the issue, i.e. our wives' vaginas are to be managed by the state, our daughters' vaginas are to be run by the state, congress is taking over the role of qualified doctors when it comes to the health of females in the United States. Be graphic in your descriptions: female citizens of the United States do not have sovereignty over their uteruses, their fallopian tubes, their vaginal canals, because each one is connected to the other.
MJS: Many people don't like explanations that take too long.
SDV: Precisely: make them take too long. If a progressive goes on the radio suggest that he or she talk about vaginas, vaginal canals, fallopian tubes, uterine wall, eggs; talk about penises and sperm and DNA and testes and so forth. The same people who are uncomfortable with their own bodies are the ones who want to run yours: get it? Make them face what they are trying to do, make them talk about it in as unfettered, non-euphemistic fashion as possible. Make them face The Elephant in the Room.
MJS: I could make a joke here.
SDV: And that's another thing: get over it. Get over the schoolyard sniggling and juvenile responses to the word "Vagina." Many people, who never march against wars but want to control women, are going to have to face the music, and you can't control the issue if it's just going to devolve into peurile joking.
MJS: Well, it is funny, I mean, the Elephant in the Room is a schematic of a vagina.
SDV: Whatever. Let's review: Progessives need to talk about abortion, about birth control, and how those who are against abortion are, by and large, also against birth control, which means they don't care about the fetus as much as they do about what a woman does with her own body.
MJS: I'm not saying you look like a...
SDV: Talk about sperm, and if we outlaw abortion, what about all that sperm that men issue that never meet an egg? Is not a half of a blastocyst also sacred? If it isn't, and it has no moral value, but an egg does, then women are actually superior in relative moral value to a man! Women should then be deciding what men can do, and cannot do, with their penises. Make the dialogue go down these weird alleys, allow it to speed along into the absurdities that follow when we treat women's reproductive organs as governable while men's organs are not subject to the same controls.
MJS: So, talk bluntly, in detail--but isn't that what anti-abortionists do when they describe late-term abortions and the violence and suffering visited upon the fetus?
SDV: Some people may not be up to speed on this, but just so you know: a woman's body is her own. If it's not, then your sister, your wife, your mother belong to the state. The images used that depict late-term abortions are powerful, but the same people who use those won't look at images of children killed in Iraq, or soldiers faces blown off, so go into that disconnect and put the two together. Remember: these people are not pro-life, they're Pro War on Women.
MJS: But many women are...
SDV: ...also opposed to legal, safe abortions, I know, I know. Many are also against birth control, or sex education for their kids. All I can tell you is this: they are part of the War on Women, whether they understand their role consciously or not. They could get on board with birth control and sex education and cut down on unwanted pregnancies, but many don't, because it's about...
MJS: (interrupting) The War on Women.
SDV: I think you got it.
We said our good-byes (I started to give her a kiss but thought better of it). I walked home, repeating over and over to myself what anti-abortionists are really about: The War on Women. The War on Women. The War on Women. The War on Women.
Ain't no snark big enough to make me forget that sentence: The War on Women.
This Democratic Talking Point story was inspired by a posting from Fired Up Missouri. The article was lost to me, but check out the site, and get fired up.
Schematic image of a Vagina sans any prurient, lust-inducing human quality is from here.
UPDATE: Jesus' General has posted The One True Rendition of the Schematic Drawing of a Vagina.
WARNING: A bird in the hand is also worth one in the nethers. Just sayin'.
LAST ADD: The War on Women continues. What are you willing to do about it?


text:
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Recent research findings:
Both the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) have recently published consensus guidelines on the use of radiotherapy for benign conditions.
1. Ott OJ, Niewald M, Weitmann HD et al., DEGRO guidelines for the radiotherapy of non-malignant disorders. Part II: Painful degenerative skeletal disorders. Strahlenther Onkol 2015; 191(1):1-6.
2. Reinartz G, Eich HT, Pohl F. DEGRO guidelines for the radiotherapy of non-malignant disorders. Part IV: Symptomatic functional disorders. Strahlenther Onkol 2015; 191(4): 295-302.
3. Seegenschmiedt M, Wielpütz M, Hanslian E et al. Long-term outcome of radiotherapy for primary and recurrent Ledderhose disease. In Eaton C, Seegenschmiedt MH, Bayat A et al (eds.), Dupuytren's Contracture Disease and Related Hyperproliferative Disorders, Principles, Research and Clinical Perspectives, Chapt 50. Springer Berlin Heidelberg 2012: 409-427.
4. A review of the use of radiotherapy in the UK for the treatment of benign clinical conditions and benign tumours. London: The Royal College of Radiologists, 2015.
5. Canyilmaz E, Canyilmaz F, Aynaci O et al. Prospective randomized comparison of the effectiveness of radiation therapy and local steroid injection in the treatment of planar fasciitis. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2015; 92(3): 659-68.


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They say that the deck never lies, but nobody ever said anything about the dick behind it. Whenever Liam and Emma played cards, each knew that the other was in some way cheating. They knew it foolish to assume otherwise. Before each game, there was always the same mutual clarification, "No cheating this time." This statement, of course, was pure bull. If there wasn't a skiff up someone's sleeve, there was a "sidedeck" on the lap. The game was less about the game itself and more about who was a better cheater. Getting caught meant losing, but in most cases, one would simply ignore the other's cheating because it was more fun to win despite it.
This time, however, Liam wouldn't cheat. To the infirmary he brought their regular deck of cards and on a small table beside his ailing sister, he dealt a game of classic war. To his surprise, Emma was not reluctant to play, but rather very glad to have something to do. To no one's shock, Dr. Lorentz made for boring company. Constant stories of the way Germany used to be or hearing of how pediatric neurosurgery is more baffling than its adult counterpart could really grate on one's nerves. Liam sensed that Emma was in a massive heap of emotions ranging from annoyance to frustration, anger to rage, sorrow to grief, and, most recently, boredom. He could not imagine himself in her shoes. Not only had he never been shot, but he had also never seen someone he cared about gunned down in front of him. Liam cared about his sister though and wanted to help. Playing cards was one of the ways he knew how and cheating felt like a disservice to his cause.
"Four," Liam said as he put down somewhere around his twelfth card.
"Six," Emma replied unemotionally as she took both cards. "Nine."
"Eight," Liam sighed as Emma took the cards again. He didn't think she was cheating. Not yet anyway. "How much longer do you have to be cooked up in here?"
"The doc wants me in bed for at least a week, so four more days. Queen. Then I start physical therapy."
"Ace of clubs," Liam smirked as he took both cards. "How long will that last?"
"He says six weeks," Emma groaned. "Two. Dammit."
"Four." Maybe she wasn't cheating after all. "Seven weeks of recovery. Really?"
"Really. King."
"Ten." Or was she? "Is there a way you could speed that up? Jack."
"I'll do whatever it takes. Jack."
He HAD laid down a jack as well. "War it is," Liam drew three cards and set them aside without looking, then drew another and set it face up. "Six."
Emma did the same and then smirked, "Ace of spades."
Okay, so maybe she was cheating. But how? Whatever. Liam laid down another card, "Seven."
"Look," Emma cleared her throat, "this ship gets to Boston in, what, a month?"
"Yeah. Little less."
"Five," Emma snapped her fingers. "So, when this ship hauls into port at the end of the month, I'll be stepping off. Count on it."
"Nine. Whatever you say."
"Dammit," Emma had put down the two of hearts. "Come on, Liam, when have I ever let you down?"
Liam paused.
"Don't answer that," Emma rolled her eyes as she set down another card. "King."
"Ace," Liam grinned.
"Seriously?" Emma muttered. "How are you doing it?"
"Doing what?"
"You know what."
"Cheating?" Liam laughed. "I'm not cheating."
"I'm serious."
"I'm telling you, I'm not cheating."
"Yeah, whatever. Play," Emma put down an eight of clubs.
"See!" Six of spades.
"You're just doing that to prove you aren't cheating, Liam."
"Oh, yeah, because I'm that much of a dumbass."
"Don't say anything," Liam realized he had just done almost exactly what Emma had done earlier. Hooray for incidental conversational parallelism! "Two."
"Two." It hit her, "War!"
Before Liam could deal out his cards, the door to the infirmary opened. In a strange reflex, he cupped his hands over his cards as he looked to see Sergei walk in. Liam had seen their guest a couple of times in the last few days, but hadn't said anything at all to him besides barely polite small talk. The cold shoulder routine worked for Liam. He let his parents play nice, but someone had to be the bad guy in this. So as soon as Sergei walked in, Liam demanded, "What the hell are you doing here?"
Sergei froze, "Oh, I- I just wanted to check up on Emma. I wanted to know if she was alright. The captain told me that she was awake and that I could-"
"Yeah, well, she's fine," said Liam.
Emma, who despite inability to hide her grumpiness, asked in a sweet tone, "Are you who I think you are?"
"Fleming. Sergei Fleming," he answered without missing a beat. "I came to see if you were alright."
"You're the one who rescued me?"
"Yes, yes, I am," Sergei very slowly approached her bed. Liam allowed this to happen, though he did so visibly annoyed. For some reason, Sergei just had to know beyond the shadow of a doubt that Liam really did not like him. "How are you feeling?"
"Like hell," Emma sighed. "Could be worse though, but thanks to you, it isn't."
"I just did what I knew was right," Sergei replied. "I wish I had arrived sooner, I might have been able to-"
"Yeah," Emma stopped him. She was certain we would mention LeFleur and she had no intention of thinking about that. Her body ached enough. There was no need for emotional pain. But such thoughts were inevitable. It came to her then, "Hey, Liam."
"What about- what about a funeral? Is there- is there a plan for that?"
Dr. Lorentz came out from his office area and answered, "I'm sorry, but I've been listening in every now and then. I can answer your question for you."
"Okay," Emma made a rolling gesture with her hand as if to tell him to move on.
"Your father knew that you would want to be there at any service, so instead of performing our regular 'day after' tradition, I was given charge of deciding when you were fit enough to be brought above decks for the funeral. If, and only if, all goes well, I will have you up there in four days time. By then, we will have started a little bit of physical therapy, but you will be confined to a wheelchair. I'm sorry, that is the way it must be."
"Dammit," Emma groaned. "Wait, what about Ivaniff?"
"Ivanov," Liam corrected her.
"His funeral will be on the same night. Captain Mitchell thought it best on the crew's morale not to have two funerals occurring on the same day."
Emma rolled her eyes, "Yeah, that's fine."
"I am almost certain that if you asked your father, he would move Ivanov's funeral for you and-"
"No, it's fine," Emma interrupted.
"If that is that, then I shall return to my desk."
"You do that," Emma snarked.
Dr. Lorentz politely smiled and then bowed out.
"Seems like an alright sort," Sergei said.
"Guess he is," Liam lied.
"May I ask you a question, Emma?" asked Sergei.
"How much do you remember about when I rescued you?"
Emma thought about it. Liam watched very carefully as it came back to her. He could not imagine her pain, so he put his hand on her arm. "I- I remember being shot. I remember seeing LeFleur being shot. I remember believing that I was dead. I remember being ready to die. I knew it was over. Then it's gets hazy. I can remember hearing gunshots, thinking they were for me, but they weren't. Then I remember someone picking me up. But after that? There's nothing. Why?"
"Honestly just curious," Sergei shrugged. "May I ask another question?"
"Do you remember me?"
"Barely," Emma replied. "I remember when we were kids. You were a quiet one and you didn't play much. I didn't like you."
"No, you did not," Sergei laughed. "I liked you though. I honestly didn't have much contact with children my age. It's just because of the way I grew up, but I thought you were the prettiest girl I had ever seen."
"Oh, yeah?" Emma chuckled. "You certainly didn't do much about it back then."
"I honestly didn't know how," Sergei sighed. "But that's why I was shy in those days."
"You seem a bit more outgoing."
"Yes, I am," he answered confidently. "I wasn't given real social training until I was about fifteen."
"Social training?" Liam cocked his eyebrow.
Sergei shrugged it off, "I'm definitely an improved person since, what, age twelve?"
"Aren't we all," Liam said with a definite edge. "Don't lack for confidence, do ya?"
Sergei chuckled uncomfortably, "No, I suppose not."
"Look, Sergei, I don't want to be rude," Liam lied, "but we were in the middle something. Do you mind?"
"Not at all," he feigned a smile. "You're right. I just came by to make sure you were alright."
"Hey, thanks for stopping by, Sergei," Emma said sincerely. "I appreciate what you did for me."
"Not a problem," Sergei said as he opened the door. "Get well soon," were his last words as he stepped out. The door shut behind.
The Mitchell siblings looked upon one another before Liam said, "So, don't we have a war to resolve?"


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These story ideas were inspired during brainstorm sessions with my pal Frank, another lifelong Trekkie. We bounce ideas off each other, and something good often happens.
This is a fusion of a couple of plots that we worked up for a Trek film that we were going to shoot on video when we were much younger, featuring ourselves and either bad model work or bad CG work, depending on the period. It does NOT involve any existing Trek characters, rather a ship and crew we made up for ourselves. It's an adventure, an attempt at a coming of age kinda thing for the main character, and when I was done I was surprised to find that it worked out to have a message about leaving things lying around that you shouldn't!
A sidebar to the Dominion War, giving Picard and crew something to do while the Enterprise E is under repair after First Contact. Also a few comments of my own on the Trek universe, an attempt to use some real physics instead of Treknobabble, an homage to the past, and a revival of two of my favorite ensigns.
Since I'm such a tech-head, I drew up a diagram of the ship I created for WOLF. You may want avoid looking at it until you've at least read the description in the story, since it would be a bit of a spoiler.
U.S.S.WOLF Profile and Cutaway Views
And to see the size of the Wolf profiled against other starfleet ships (mostly my kitbash model designs), go HERE and scroll aaaall the way to the bottom.


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I took a big break from last years Fringe after a long time of reviewing it for various sources. This year I am still doing it low key but here are a few thoughts and potential highlights.
First up this year is the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Koestler Parapsychology Unit (KPU) and to celebrate they're opening their doors. Unbelievable: The Science of the Paranormal. This takes place from the 15th to the 22nd from 5pm for one hour and its free. Naturally the venue is the Edinburgh Psychology Building.
Ian D Montfort (Tom Binns) is back as the psychic medium you need to see. Ian D Montfort Under Sciencey Conditions is on for the full run of the Fringe at the Pleasance Courtyard from 9.20pm.
Ash Pryce is attending with several shows - How to be a Psychic Conmanand Haunted, both of which run for the entire Fringe and Ghostbusted! which is a skeptical ghost tour on for one night only (the 21st at 10pm). Details of this part of the Free Fringe are on Ash's website.
Also as part of the Free Fringe the Edinburgh Skeptics in the Pub are producing their usual very full programme. Every night a different show from 7.50pm at the Banshee Labyrinth.
There's a nice overview of science shows which will be of interest to many readers here, courtesy of Stewart Smith and Research the Headlines.
And in case you can't find anything to tempt you out this evening then check out The One Show on BBC1 at 7pm where there is an interview with my coauthor on The Great Lafayette Ian Robertson - watch out for a special appearance by my name on Ian's T shirt!
I shall be adding more shows as the Fringe continues - if you have any recommendations just send them in and I can put them up.


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I adapted this for a bread machine from an old recipe. We always have these on Easter morning.
These buns had the *best* flavor of any hot cross buns I've ever tasted. The grated orange peel and other spices went very well together and the flavor was excellent. I used dried cranberries (a.k.a. "Craisins" from Ocean Spray) in place of raisins and that worked very well, too. My only word of caution to other readers about this recipe is that all bread machines are different, and what works in one might not work so well in another. In my machine, these buns, although most definitely edible, did not rise enough, making the bread very dense. If you prefer your buns to me more "fluffy," I would suggest adding an entire 2 oz. packet of yeast, or perhaps try the special "Very Active Dry Yeast" that's made just for bread machines. All in all, my Easter guests enjoyed these buns, and I will be making them again. - 26 Apr 2003 (Review from Allrecipes US | Canada)
I think a big part of this tradition is to cut crosses into the buns with floured scissors or sharp knife just before egg-washing them. Then you can spoon the icing into the grooved crosses after they come out of the oven. Also, I think they are supposed to be served hot. (I didn't think the icing in this recipe tasted good.) - 29 Mar 2002 (Review from Allrecipes US | Canada)
Very good. I added about 1/4 more sugar to the batter. To make them more traditional, I made a soft paste with equal parts flour and water, and piped it in crosses before baking the buns. This is the traditional way to make the crosses instead of the icing sugar! Delicious!! - 08 Apr 2007 (Review from Allrecipes US | Canada)


text: Back Share: Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn 19 Jul 2017 New Islington Museum exhibition celebrates 50th anniversary of Sexual Offences Act Joe Orton (L) and Kenneth Halliwell in Duncan Terrace, c 1967 View | Download Islington Museum's new free exhibition celebrates the 50th anniversary of the passing of the Sexual Offences Act, and commemorates the 50th anniversary of the deaths of Joe Orton and Kenneth Halliwell. Up Against It: Islington 1967, which runs from 22 July until 21 October 2017 at Islington Museum, 245 St John Street, EC1V 4NB, explores the lives of well-known members of the local gay community before and after the passing of the Act on 27 July that year. It also commemorates the 50th anniversary of the deaths of playwright Joe Orton and his partner and collage artist Kenneth Halliwell, two weeks later on 9 August. At the time of his murder by Halliwell, Orton was working on a screenplay for The Beatles called Up Against It, a title that reflects the challenges for the LGBT+ community up to the present day. Through the stories of well-known gay men living in Islington before and after the act, which decriminalised homosexual acts in private between two men aged 21 years or over, Up Against It: Islington 1967 seeks to reflect the experience of males who could not declare their love freely, and the difference the '67 act made to them. Stories featured include those of Oscar Wilde, imprisoned at Holloway and Pentonville prisons; composer Benjamin Britten who shared an Islington studio with his partner; Bob Crossman – the country's first gay mayor; and Baron Chris Smith of Finsbury, who was the first MP to announce he was gay. Cllr Kaya Comer-Schwartz, Islington Council's executive member for community development, said: "The act was a milestone in LGBT+ legislation, not least in Islington where it helped to improve the lives of many members of its gay community, who had already made Islington their home. "Work to achieve total acceptance and full equality throughout wider society continues, and the borough is proud to be in the forefront of LGBT+ rights campaigning, as well as being a spiritual home to the LGBT+ community and activists. "This excellent exhibition gives an insight into what was achieved, how far we have come and how much more still needs to be done." Only a few years after the 1967 Act was passed a number of organisations chose Islington as their base to carry on the foundation it had laid down. These included the Gay Liberation Front, London Friend and London Gay Switchboard. Highbury Fields, the borough's largest open space, was also the location of the capital's first gay public protest in 1970. Among gay couples making their home in Islington in the years before 1967 was writer Joe Orton and his partner and artist Kenneth Halliwell. Theirs was perhaps the borough's most famous or, even, infamous partnership. Orton and Halliwell enjoyed living and working in Islington, an area which was to influence Orton's writings. Sadly, only two weeks after the Sexual Offences Act was passed, Halliwell murdered Orton and committed suicide. Collaged public library book covers created by Halliwell and Orton between 1959 and 1962 – an act of artistic rebellion which led to them both being sent to prison at the time - a Halliwell collage and the artist's newly acquired World of Cats screen will be on display together for the first time. The new exhibition comes less than a fortnight after Islington Council announced that it is to create a major new archive of the borough's LGBT+ history, thanks to an award of £329,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund. For further information please contact:Chris Roe, Senior Media OfficerTel: 020 7527 8751 Mob/out of hours: 07769 163303 Email: email@example.com Follow us on Twitter @IslingtonBC and @IslingtonLife Downloads Highbury Fields in the 1970s View | Download Share release Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Back


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The Munich — Blaine, MN
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Coming in 2015, the web series "Eden's Garden" will reveal the seldom explored reality for trans men of color. Created by 26-year-old Seven King, the 13-episode scripted series will feature a main cast of female-to-male transgender men.
And they all happen to be masculine.
While the M-word appears no where in the show's synopsis, websites and promotional videos, this is still the first thing that came to my mind when viewing the imagery for the series. There's no doubt that effeminate gay men and women will appear throughout the series, but the main cast is distinctively masculine-leaning.
Some of you have already stopped reading…and I understand that.
Cypher Avenue has a long history of "harping" on the whole "masculine thing." However, never acknowledging masculinity in the gay community would be like never acknowledging that the (handsome) men in the Eden's Garden's cast were born female.
To be clear, this series looks very interesting and we sure hope that the produced content will be just as intriguing as the unique starting premise. Trans men in general are an underrepresented group whose stories are rarely told, let alone visualized in film form.
Another thing to stress is that these men do not represent the full spectrum of gender and sexuality in the LGBT community.
But again, I'll point out that it appears that Seven King managed to populate his main cast with trans actors more masculine than anyone in the entire cast of FREEFALL, the melodramatic gay web series featuring cisgendered gay men of color .
Before I get too much more ahead of myself, here's one of the promos for the upcoming series:
Again, looking forward to seeing this show.
In another video, members of the cast discuss their own personal journey transitioning from Female-To-Male, as well as what their on-screen trans characters will be seen going through.
Again, the men are very masculine. Not just wearing "Masculine Drag."
To be honest, creator Seven King and the crew working on Eden's Garden might balk at my narrowing in on this minor aspect of the series. However, I'd argue that its not a minor aspect at all. This is major. For us at least.
For four years now, we here at Cypher Avenue have tried to provide a masculine black gay male perspective on various topics relating not only to LGBT issues, but non-sexuality issues and interests as well. One of our main gripes has been that we seemed alone in this endeavor.
For a group of people so diverse and varied that we need 4 letters in our LGBT initialism to somewhat describe everyone, you would think that Masculinity could be included as well. To ignore the masculine and feminine differences in gay men is nearly equivalent to ignoring the Male and Female gender differences in heterosexuals.
In most black gay created and operated blogs, films, web series, music, podcasts and vlogs, depictions of masculinity have been few and far between. If anything, we see feminine men doing their best to "butch it up" to portray masculine gay characters. Even saying the word "Masculine" causes most black gay feminists' forehead veins to throb.
Masculinity in gay men is only for objectifying, not for claiming or talking about…that is, of course, unless your goal is to discuss the evils of masculinity and that more femininity should be added to it.
So this brings me back to Eden's Garden.
Eden's Garden appears to be the first independently produced black LGBT creative work since The D.L. Chronicles: Episode Thomas to cast masculine men as the lead characters.
Even if there are other examples out there, I doubt you'll find more than one or two other series/films with this many non-flamboyant caricatures of black gay men populating the lead roles. This isn't meant to imply that feminine-leaning series should go away, instead we're preaching that more accurate representations of masculinity in the black gay community should exist.
Who knew that we'd need Trans Men to volunteer as tribute.
But did this come without a price?
The YouTube Channel for Eden's Garden is less than a year old with only 6 videos and already has over 60,000 views. One promo video alone has over 30,000 views.
The series and its creator have even been featured on The Advocate, one of the nation's most trafficked LGBT websites.
Given all this success, the series' fundraiser seeking a goal of only $8,000 to help finance 13 full episodes has only raised a little more than $500…in over 6 months!
This is worth repeating.
A new black LGBT web series with tons of exposure has only raised 7% of their small goal in 6 months of fundraising.
To put this in perspective, a Caucasian feminine-leaning Canadian web series called The Switch starring an all transgender main cast raised over $47,000 U.S. dollars in less than 2 months back in July of this year.
Now, I've already written at great length on the lack of financial support in the black gay community. We just don't support our own when it comes to pulling out our wallets.
However in the case of Eden's Garden, could the overt masculine slant of the trans men casting be a reason for the lack of support? If these were men who had transitioned into feminine women, would they have easily raised $8,000?
Were most of their YouTube hits actually "Hate-Views," much like Fly Young Red experienced with his Throw That Boy Pussy music video on Worldstar Hip Hop and Bossip? Bigoted heterosexual men and women sharing the video to bash not only the men in the promos but also Trans Men in general as well?
Or could their 60,000+ YouTube views be faked? Were these purchased views to make the series appear as if it had gained an early buzz when in actuality it didn't?
No matter which explanation is true, all of them lead to some form of disappointment.
Regardless, we're glad to see that this web series exists and hope that their lack of financial support thus far won't deter them from producing at least one episode of the series.
Masculine men exist in the LGBT community.
Trans Masculine men exist in the LGBT community.
Let's hope that both groups continue getting the much needed exposure they deserve.