April 13, 2021

If you are getting pro-NRA ads all over the DU when you peruse the site...

...click on them!

This causes google to charge the NRA for the engagement, sending a portion of the funds to the D.U.

I wouldn't sign up for their email spam though, but you be you.

February 20, 2021

Texas snowstorms are due to rapid heating of the Arctic, say scientists

In case you get any "but global warming couldn't be happening because Texas is cold" from any right wing moron, global climate change means destabilizing weather patterns. Freezing in Texas, melting in the arctic.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EuR_SQ3WgAA6HFm?format=jpg

https://bigthink.com/surprising-science/texas-snowstorm-arctic

March 25, 2020

Lost Sense of Smell May Be Peculiar Clue to Coronavirus Infection

Source: New York Times

Doctor groups are recommending testing and isolation for people who lose their ability to smell and taste, even if they have no other symptoms.
...
Anosmia, the loss of sense of smell, and ageusia, an accompanying diminished sense of taste, have emerged as peculiar telltale signs of Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, and possible markers of infection.

On Friday, British ear, nose and throat doctors, citing reports from colleagues around the world, called on adults who lose their senses of smell to isolate themselves for seven days, even if they have no other symptoms, to slow the disease’s spread. The published data is limited, but doctors are concerned enough to raise warnings.
...
“Almost everybody who is hospitalized has this same story,” said Dr. Marco Metra, chief of the cardiology department at the main hospital in Brescia, where 700 of 1,200 inpatients have the coronavirus. “You ask about the patient’s wife or husband. And the patient says, ‘My wife has just lost her smell and taste but otherwise she is well.’ So she is likely infected, and she is spreading it"

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/22/health/coronavirus-symptoms-smell-taste.html

February 6, 2020

Can I say what a breath of fresh air the DU has been during the primaries?

Are there differences of opinion? Certainly.
Are there different candidates we each pick as out #1 choice? Of course.
Are there debates about what is the most important strength our nominee should have in the general vs Trump? Absolutely.

But even with the occasional heated rhetoric, this site has a culture of adult conversation that just isn't present in other online communities. Mostly, people here argue to persuade others to their side, rather than indulge in the bullying, alienation, misrepresentation, and at times outright lying to prevalent on twitter, reddit, and other discussion forums.

Even compared to what this same site was four years ago.

It's unique. And dare I say it, refreshing.

It makes me feel much better about all our candidates, even those that aren't my #1 pick.

October 2, 2019

Just a quick FYI about "the base"

Anyone who needs to be "excited" or they'll refuse to vote for the Democratic nominee against Trump?

ISN'T THE BASE

They have no moral authority over the Democratic party. So do not speak of them as such, or give anyone who threatens people with refusing to oppose Trump in the general any special regard in terms of their primary choices. In fact, do the opposite. Because frankly, these kind of people are more likely to drive away more people in the general election than they attract.

Thank you for your attention.

February 28, 2019

AOC was superb! But couldn't have been so without "centrist" Dems

AOC cut straight to the quick building the case for looking into Trump's tax returns and other proof of his multiple felonies. She was one of the best questioners today.

But without the House going blue, thanks to very moderate Democrats like Conor Lamb winning very Republican leaning districts, Cohen wouldn't have even been brought in to testify. Both the "Our Revolution" and "Justice" Democrats went 0 for 40 in flipping GOP seats. The Blue Wave was all won by the centrist lefties, not the left-left lefties.

In short, the Democrats need both: the pure left to speak truth and provide vision, and the moderates (and even the blue dogs) to bring the public along, along with asking the hard questions about how something will actually work. Neither are dispensable.

We all need to remember that.

// Edit: added comma

December 20, 2017

Please stop using these Republican framing phrases:

It's not "Tax Relief" or "Tax Reform" - It's "tax evasion".

It's not "Lower Taxes" either - It's "borrowing money we don't have to give to billionaires".

It's not "Regulatory relief" or "Less government" - It's "abusing power to get away with crimes".

It's not "Virtue signaling" - It's "calling out racists".

It's not "Political correctness" - It's "not being an asshole to people".

It's not "Strong defense" - It's "war mongering".

It's not "Family values" - It's "legalizing sex predation".

It's not "Pro Life" - It's "forced birth into poverty".

It's not "the Religious right" - It's "attacking everything that Jesus said to do"

There are more of these, and you're welcome to add them.


Note: Even the DU uses Republican phrases like "Tax Relief" in their graphics - which is why I wrote this. LOOK AT THIS: "to provide massive tax relief" ?!?

December 1, 2017

Oh, but Democrats and Republicans are EXACTLY THE SAME, right?

September 27, 2017

Fellow Hillary supporters - PLEASE don't adopt the behaviors you criticized

It is one thing to criticize someone who is outright attacking the Democratic party, or otherwise putting forth the narrative that Democrats and/or Democratic leaders are somehow "corrupt" or "only working for corporations" and other pap.

It is quite another to bash someone simply because of a tribal identity.

Now here's the thing. I'm not telling you this because I think we should "move forward", ignoring the history of people who, for various reasons good and bad, ended up contributing to Trump being in office. I am certainly not telling you that bygones should be bygones, and we shouldn't care who stabbed who in the back.

Rather, I'm telling you this because you're supposed to be the grownups in this conversation. And you are better than that yourself.

So, unless there is some FRESH NEW ATTACK that needs to be rebutted, please don't go out of your way to attack any Democratic ally. Specifically, this means people who supported Senator Sanders in the primary (which they had absolutely every right to do) but then went on to vote for Hillary, and Senator Sanders himself, who endorsed the Democratic nominee and campaigned for her.

There are still differences, of course. Mostly about political strategy and a huge amount of misunderstanding about how hard it is to get something done when the nation is filled to the brim with racists and sexists. But making it personal, making ethical attacks, is the original sin of the Sanders campaign (since mostly walked back). So don't do that yourself.

September 19, 2017

Reasonably proud of my first SciFi work

It came out well. Everything I hoped for.

No, this isn't a solicitation. Please just enjoy the pretty picture.