Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

The low info voters probably won’t even notice or remember by their next lap around the goldfish bowl.

The way to stop violence is to stop manufacturing the hatred that fuels it.

When your entire life is steeped in white supremacy, equality feels like discrimination.

Republicans got rid of McCarthy. Democrats chose not to save him.

We’ve had enough carrots to last a lifetime. break out the sticks.

Nothing says ‘pro-life’ like letting children go hungry.

There are a lot more evil idiots than evil geniuses.

The worst democrat is better than the best republican.

Not all heroes wear capes.

Do not shrug your shoulders and accept the normalization of untruths.

One way or another, he’s a liar.

Accountability, motherfuckers.

“Everybody’s entitled to be an idiot.”

I’m more christian than these people and i’m an atheist.

Republicans do not trust women.

Thanks to your bullshit, we are now under siege.

Tick tock motherfuckers!

A democracy can’t function when people can’t distinguish facts from lies.

A tremendous foreign policy asset… to all of our adversaries.

Balloon Juice, where there is always someone who will say you’re doing it wrong.

Dear legacy media: you are not here to influence outcomes and policies you find desirable.

Today’s gop: why go just far enough when too far is right there?

Wow, I can’t imagine what it was like to comment in morse code.

So fucking stupid, and still doing a tremendous amount of damage.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / Acts of Kindness: A Holiday Break

Acts of Kindness: A Holiday Break

by | 37 Comments

This post is in: 

I need a bit of a break from our weekly kindness posts. I’m looking down the path at end-of-the-year craziness at work, and my latest novel is coming back from the editor this week. It will need final tweaks before heading to publishing. I really need to focus on that, along with a bunch of holiday plans that will take up a lot of my time (happily) for the remainder of the month.

I have been promising this post since early in the week, and it’s now Saturday; you can see, I am having trouble finding the time to put posts together.

I want to update on my attempt at being a “normie,” it has been great. I have found tuning in to Maddow on Mondays, a quick hit of Twitter, and stopping by here gives me enough to stay informed without obsessing over every little thing. I’m sure my heart and blood pressure are grateful. I highly recommend it if you need a break.

Speaking of Twitter – I tried to clean out my bookmarks in case things sink like the Titanic in the near future. If you sent me the Twitter link, identify yourself in the comments. And thank you!

https://twitter.com/JamesL1927/status/1597299144556937216?s=20&t=LZLaeCeu2m7x4SBixP3H7A

 

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This is such a great story.

https://twitter.com/hEnereyG/status/1591106342902980609?s=20&t=LZLaeCeu2m7x4SBixP3H7A

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They do more than deliver mail:

https://twitter.com/NALC_National/status/1591647564767498240?s=20&t=LZLaeCeu2m7x4SBixP3H7A

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https://twitter.com/NALC_National/status/1592554047076438023?s=20&t=LZLaeCeu2m7x4SBixP3H7A

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https://twitter.com/travisakers/status/1587988965302439936?s=20&t=LZLaeCeu2m7x4SBixP3H7A

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Mike S. (Now with a Democratic Congressperson!) sent me some interesting links on Yellowstone wolf data. Of interest here as we have voted to allow wolves in the state. And can I just say the audacity of that statement – fuck the idea that we should have any say in where wolves roam. Tons of research on how they improve the environment. But I digress. Here’s what Mike sent:

“Using a predictive model based on empirical Yellowstone wolf data, we were able to determine that fitness is greatest when wolves mate ‘disassortatively’ [mating between a black and a gray wolf] in the presence of disease outbreaks at least once every five years,” said Brandell.

Gray and black wolves in snow

Excitingly, said the researchers, the predictions from their model closely matched the observations that black wolves are more likely to pair with gray wolves in areas where CDV outbreaks are common. This competitive advantage is lost in areas where CDV outbreaks do not occur.”

It’s a fascinating read. Along with this study, he sent: Parasitic infection increases risk-taking in a social, intermediate host carnivore (Gray Wolves)

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The Dodo usually cross-posts these to YouTube, but I could only find this one on FB. From Alison Rose:

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SiubhanDuinne sent me this, and I had to laugh as it hits a little close to home:

Acts of Kindness: A Holiday Break

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And finally, I attempted a little bit of holiday spirit today.

Crazy one-year-old kitten ☑️
Crazy one-year-old Great Dane ☑️
Bull-in-a-China-shop rescue Dane ☑️

And yet, I did manage to get the tree up. So far, no one has bothered it. But I also only put up the cheap ornaments and nothing that couldn’t easily be replaced. I’m crazy, not stupid. LOL

I love that skinny little tree. I can fit it in the corner and out of the way of the lumbering mooses. A friend had one, and I searched high and low until I found a similar one. Perfect for my little doll house.

Trixie had her spay Thursday, and she’s doing fine. My only issue today was reminding her that she was in recovery and bouncing was not allowed. But I will have my hands full all week, keeping her quiet.

Acts of Kindness: A Holiday Break 1

Okay, that’s enough for tonight. I will return, maybe once before the holidays (no promises) and for sure at the beginning of next year when hopefully things will be a little quieter here.

Remember to be kind to yourself during this crazy season. Celebrate the small wins. And add any kindness links in the comments.

 

Reader Interactions

37Comments

  2. 2.

    Another Scott

    Thanks for all you do for us TaMara.  Best of luck with the book, the pooches, and the tree!

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  3. 3.

    geg6

    I, too, have embraced the normie life.  It is wonderful.  No cable news at all, only local news.  No WaPo, FTFNYT or Apple News.  A few old school blogs, like BJ, GOS and TPM and that’s it.  I’m much calmer and less full of anxiety.  It’s truly lovely.

  8. 8.

    mrmoshpotato

    @Delk:

    Man’s World Cup Flag Display Helps Lincoln Square Neighbors Keep Track Of Who Is Left In Tournament 

    Haha!  Excellent!

  10. 10.

    Ohio Mom

    @dc: I believe that is the Great Orange Satan, the nickname for Daily Kos. As I recall, the header was orange?

    I never got into that place, couldn’t figure out how it was structured. But I know it’s been tremendously influential.

  11. 11.

    Gravie

    Animal rescue videos are my addiction. I can’t ever pass them up, and this one is great. Bless that guy.

  12. 12.

    Dan B

    Thanks for this post.  I’ve got a cold with an ugly cough and gnarly nose.  This was a first rate distraction

    Best wishes for your book.

  13. 13.

    eclare

    Thank you so much for these links!  That guy who rescued the turtle is a strong swimmer.

    Best of luck on the book!

  24. 24.

    RaflW

    We got our small tree up this year, yesterday. Lots of travel this holiday season, so the 9 footer that needs like 60+ (or gosh knows how many!) ornaments was not happening. I’m really quite happy with the compact model. Did it up with mostly Scandihovian straw ornaments this time (and, like 25 or so make it look just fine). It’s sitting on a built in bench by the fireplace so that it doesn’t feel too tiny with the high ceiling (hence the 9′ for Xmasses when we’re home more). And that’s really about it for decor.

    BF had a rehearsal with his little band of fellow amateur musicians mid-day today for the performance they’re doing at a Senior mid-rise apt. building on Wednesday (two fiddles, piano and Irish tin whistle). I’m just delighted that they’re going to go offer some cheer. And I got to hear ’em, and they’ll be great. That was the motive to get the tree up last night. :) They brought donuts. Mmmm.

  30. 30.

    CaseyL

    Lovely kindness stories, Tamara; thanks so much!

    Tonight I went to the Ortho & Sports Medicine Department Holiday Party, our first since Covid hit.  The Department Chair gave a simple, but very moving speech, thanking everyone for their/our dedication to our patients and to one another over the past 3 years.  The party was fantastic – our event planner is second to none – and it was a perfectly fine way to spend the evening.

  33. 33.

    moonbat

    Thank you, Tamara! Every post is a pleasure whenever it arrives. Best of luck with the book! I hope your puppy heals quickly.

  34. 34.

    Kayla Rudbek

    My new Christmas tree is up, although I may need to check the old Christmas tree box to find the good timer for the outlet/lights.

    I’ve been slowly getting some of the crafting books in from Amazon that were in their 3-for-2 sale over Black Friday-Cyber Monday. Unfortunately both the Crayola Create It Yourself and the Knights books look a bit too advanced for my godson (word from my sibling was that Mommy and Daddy would have to do all the work with the first book, and the Knights book has instructions on how to make a bow and arrow set and a shoebox catapult.  So I’m sure that one will get vetoed tomorrow morning as well.)

    I have another nephew who’s slightly older than my godson so he may be getting more books than I had initially planned :) Although then his mom may start griping about his aunt being a bad influence…

  35. 35.

    frosty

    @geg6: I’m a political junkie* and my sources are the same as yours, other than a couple of WaPo columnists, and swap out GOS for Wonkette. I can’t believe I’m a normie!

    *Hell, I had a subscription to Washington Monthly in the 70s when I lived on the Left Coast, about as far as possible from DC. No, I’m not a normie. Sad to say you might not be one either.

  36. 36.

    RaflW

    @NotMax: Lol. The fireplace is a 1982 glassed in fake log gas-burner that, frankly, sucks. It’s on our long-term, lower priority list. And the tree is 6 feet away.

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