Republicans, religion, and the triumph of unreason. (Doesn’t that just say it all? From the [UK] Independent)

As a result, 18,000 US citizens die every year needlessly, because they can’t access the care they require. That’s equivalent to six 9/11s, every year, year on year. Yet the Republicans have accused the Democrats who are trying to stop all this death by extending healthcare of being “killers” – and they have successfully managed to put them on the defensive.

These increasingly frenzied claims have become so detached from reality that they often seem like black comedy. The right-wing magazine US Investors’ Daily claimed that if Stephen Hawking had been British, he would have been allowed to die at birth by its “socialist” healthcare system. Hawking responded with a polite cough that he is British, and “I wouldn’t be here without the NHS”.

Not anxious to start taking any statins anytime soon.

Mark this site: PolitiFact has a great Truth-O-Meter for catching out political lies.

15 cool and crazy ways to tie your shoelaces (spotted via the inimitable Liam)

CSM: The “war on drugs” needs a timeout. (The failure drones on.)

Doing good or the like:
There’s no such place as ‘away’ for UK domestic waste — How getting fired improved my family life (Guardian UK) — Reducing by 90% (one person’s plan, inviting others) — Noted: watched a DVD episode of Commanding Heights and was interested in Hernando de Soto Polar’s point of view vis-a-vis the poor and the bureaucracy and reforms

Now, some interesting portals:
Instructables is a geeky how-to paradise — EarthPortal seeks to be the definitive eco-science spot — SourceWatch is watching the journos and others to see what’s true and what’s not

What’s fun? This is fun:
Move refrigerator letters around with Flash (along with others) — Yes, they are cats that look like (Adolf) Hitler — In case you’ve always wanted a custom fabric giant squid, you can have one

In the creative realm:
Brain music treatment may cure stress, insomnia, etc. Interesting. — 1001 Journals (just read) — Love these absinthe bougeois chat noir posters (PS: got one!) — A fascinating discussion of Cabaret. I saw the movie for the first time a year or so ago.

An aside:
The series Carnivale (woe betide those sick souls who cancelled it before its time) revived an old interest in Tarot. There are lots of tarot sites.

And I close with: Pangur Bán, “one of the finest poems ever written”.

Bureaucracy can be amusing. At least in the hands of these creative people who’ve provided a site to allow one to funnel those messy events like, er, liking someone, onto the proper form. No word if triplicates allowed.

Such a small thing — helps. I still don’t know the significance of the phrase “three cups of tea”; I supposed I’d need to read the book (which, happily, is at my local library). But it’s lovely to have found this group (which I did via Nicholas Kristof) which provides education in an area where it’s hard to get (Afghanistan, N. Pakistan) to a population who’s least likely to receive it (girls).

Ah, Ireland. goddammit. Oops! Would that land me in prison? A great write up on Ireland and — yes — a blasphemy law. It’s more interesting than you’d think. The convolutions, the weaving of threads …

Miraz told me about these tattooed NYC toughs who have no pity for those that abuse or neglect animals. Rahhh!

A German prosecutor is checking into Bayer CropScience’s pesticide chlothianidine for links to mass bee deaths. Bees be critical to everything, beeeesides being cool creatures.

If you have a September birthday (or just know someone who does), check out this brilliant project to provide clean water in Ethiopia. (I hear the rest of the months will be coming in 2009!)

A stunning pictorial memoir: Days With My Father

Ack! Push-ups!

If you’re serious about increasing your strength, follow this six week training program and you’ll soon be on your way to completing 100 consecutive push ups!

Diet as metaphor for life + time. I’m not putting it right. Just read. Good to ponder.

What worries me are the consequences of a diet comprised mostly of fake-connectedness, makebelieve insight, and unedited first drafts of everything. I think it’s making us small. I know that whenever I become aware of it, I realize how small it can make me. So, I’ve come to despise it.

Life maybe requires ‘an evening class in failure’.

Various vintage absinthe photographs.

Netflix envelope origami. What can I say?

Everything I should have been reading all along (why do I throw these links everywhere?) about recovering from a bad ankle sprain.

A new book blog AAAAAAAAA “Today I read…” (very nicely designed, too!)

Okay, tell me true: you want one of these fun TRIKKEs, don’t you? Watch the movie. Starting to sway back and forth, aren’t you? Yeah.

Interesting to read the comments. We’re nasty narrow little people, just a bit: Beauty standards have sure changed (since 1919).

Having fun with time lapse movies. Another thing way down on my list of stuff it’d be a kick to play with.

Read! Ten simple ways to live a less stressful life.

Silly (custom(expensive!)) sock monkeys!

Which is your favourite creature? Silly animal slippers. Bonnie Bunnie!!!

Japanese home made specially especial for kitties!!

Someone’s take on 33 of the best programming fonts. Recently I switched from ProFont to Monaco.

Ah, those crazy internet memes: a mouse down memory lane.

A thought dump on teen violence and a broken society

Violence among teenagers in the UK is on a massive and frightening increase. I think it would be easy to say ‘a lot has changed since I was a teen’, but I’m not sure what and I don’t really believe it.

Community forestry

Boise trees, all you want to know.

Natural insect and rodent repellants

Battle — or at least coexist with at a distance — ants, dust mites, garden invaders, mice, mosquitos, moths, roaches, and/or ticks.

Mexican food, cooking supplies

Plus some great Mexican recipes.

Women not dabbling in normal

We are a collection of 6 women, discovering life without adhering to society’s definition of normal. We strive to educate ourselves, learn from others, and share our experiences with not dabbling in normal. We are committed to creating lives of our own making and by our own definition, we know we are not alone and look forward to using this forum as a means to meet other folks who refuse to dabble in normal.

Bat bonanza! 100+ species found in 5 acres of jungle

I like bats. Bats offer a lot in the balance of things and they’re getting nudged out in some places (which neighbors will soon regret).

Where can I donate or recycle my old computer and/or electronic products?

This EPA site might give you a first step. Heard that Best Buy is jumping into doing that as well.

Enjoy this.

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

WHO the hell is Matt?

Wasabi smoochie

Villainess soaps. If that name doesn’t grab you, the idea of a wasabi face scrub should wow you.

Where my bees at?

Some background on the ad campaign. Or skip over to the movie. You gotta see the movie.

Food focus

A comprehensive online food diary & calorie counter

Less Ordinary > Carpe diem…

Practical experience on the impermanence of…

The art of nonconformity > How to be unremarkably average

Accept what people tell you at face value. Surround yourself with people who think like you. Don’t stand out. Stay close to home. Get a normal job. Do things the way everyone else does, because there has to be a method to the madness…

Upgrading to version 3.0 (of me)

This prompts me to my own. Slainte, Darragh!

What’s the focus

A different point of view. Free culture. Couchsurfers and Barcamp and Coworking.

Has been added to my “news” regular reads. You ask questions, vote on what should be followed up on, and they’ll go bug the Capitol Hill lawmaker.

I’m voting Republican

Who owns what on television?

All those hundreds of TV channels may lead you that there’s a true diversity and variety in today’s television … but you’d be wrong. A handful of large companies control what you see, hear, and read every day.

Running for Office: It’s Like A Flamewar with a Forum Troll, but with an Eventual Winner

Sean Tevis of Kansas is running for state representative. In a different way. With cartoons.

The real McCain

McCain’s not so nice. But we knew that. (The Guardian)

A slight (cough) difference between McCain and Obama tax proposals

I’m sure you’re one of the poor millionaire class that needs the helping hand.

“Only men are capable of aesthetic greatness. Women make up 50 per cent or more of classes at art school. Yet they fade away in their late 20s or 30s. Maybe it’s something to do with bearing children.”

Art & Fear:Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking (book review)

Art is made by ordinary people. Creatures having only virtues can hardly be imagined making art. It’s difficult to picture the Virgin Mary painting landscapes. Or Batman throwing pots. The flawless creature wouldn’t need to make art.

Cursivebuildings’ odd stereoscopes

Just look.

Two-Thirds Primary by Rod Hunting and Tiffany Paige

Finding by seeing. Photographers.

Notebookism and Moleskine Art

Pages from essentially the same book. Casual art.

Box of Postcards

Vintage postcard collection online.

Smoke on the … Yangtze

Hendrix, translated. Video.

I guess there was some kid on one of those drek-filled TV shows of the same name, but OUR David was running for Senator from Idaho on the Democratic ticket. An uphill battle in this almost-most-Republican state, but unfortunately the other Democrat (with more establishment name recognition) won. I’m hoping this guy, a member of the Shoshone-Bannock tribe, will run again. I like his tone and goals.

The Orphan Works Act

Ultimately Congress is attempting to reduce your rights as a creator (whether you write, draw, design Web sites or sing), by allowing the infringer to make the distinction as to whether or not they tried hard enough to find the owner of the work and reducing the rights of the artist, designer or author. More details.

Local air quality will bring the threat of the dreaded Feds

In brief, because no one wants to do f-all about backwards planning methodology and dependence upon cars like LA.

You have until Sept. 15 to make a noise against eviscerating the Endangered Species Act

The latest volley from Bush et al. Carrying the flag this time is local dick, er, Dirk Kempthorne. And they’re making it harder to send comment. So do something.

10 years could make a world of difference

If we choose. platform_flier.pdf

Register free to save and share your books. Yeah. Real books that you’ve heard of. How are they doing this? I dunno.

Mygazines

Mygazines is your free place to browse, share, archive and customize unlimited magazine articles uploaded by you, the Mygazines community.

Matador Study

Teach English abroad. Wouldn’t that be soemthing. Stories of those that are doing it. And tips for international travel.