My Top Ten Takeaways from the First Round of Debates

1. I've been trying not to commit to a candidate too early, but it's time to stop pretending Warren hasn't completely won me over here. My "Warren Has a Plan for That" t-shirt arrives today. There is nothing in the world I love more than plans so I don't know why I though I could hold out.

(1b. Yes, I agree that her handling of the "Pocahontas" thing was Not Great, and I hope she does more to make things right with the Native American community, but there's SOMETHING I don't like about literally every candidate. Holding out for perfection is dangerous and counterproductive. And, you know, impossible.)

2. Of the rest, Castro and Harris did the best and seemed like the other adults on stage, and then probably Booker and Buttigieg. I'd be pretty happy with any of them as VP. Warren/Castro is my dream ticket at this point.

(2b. My main issue with Booker was the way he implied that Warren wanting good research and plans regarding gun violence meant she didn't CARE. Gross.)

3. Bernie did himself no favors but didn't really change my opinion of him in either direction. You know what you're getting with him and you either like it or you don't. I don't. I think he'd be bad at the job of being president and nothing he said made me think otherwise.

4. I miss when Joe Biden was someone I had mostly warm feelings about. (Not in this race, just in general.) He really, really, really needs to go.

5. Actually, let's just get rid of all the white cishet men. They are unnecessary. And it's great to have so many female candidates that we can be CHOOSY and deeply dislike at least two of them and still have options!

6. If one more person criticizes a (usually female) candidate for SEEMING TO HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT SOME OF THESE ISSUES BEFORE rather than being totally! spontaneous! I am going to murder someone.

7. I hope other candidates follow Castro's lead and use inclusive language when talking about abortion rights.

8. I woke up thinking about how many people I know would be really into Marianne Williamson's nonsense about "politics are icky, no need for plans or action or actually confronting difficult things, love will magically heal the world," and that's sad and scary.

9. So much yelling and interrupting and talking over each other! That is not helpful to anyone. Future moderators, please take a stronger stance on this. If the Oscars can cut mics, you can too.

10. I would ABSOLUTELY 100% vote for ANY of these candidates in the general election if they were the nominee, because they are all better than Trump, and if you do not do that you are a bad person.

Monday, June 17, 2019

Afternoon Tea (6/17/19)

Childhood, disrupted: Venezuela is in danger of losing a generation

This piece on George Sand is very interesting and now I want to read her; I basically only learned about her as a sidebar in Chopin's story, which is of course typical and terrible: Devils v. Dummies

These Boots Were Made for Walkin’ Away from Oklahoma

The history of candidate books: Confessions of a Presidential Candidate

‘She is an Outsider in Public Life’: women parliamentary candidates, 1918-1923

Morning Coffee (6/14/19)

Time for Friday happy links! With some LATE-BREAKING HAPPY NEWS: Taylor's got a new single out, wherever you listen to such things! (And a new album in August.)

!!! ‘Orphan Black’ Storyline Continues With Tatiana Maslany Voicing New Audio Series for Serial Box

Ooh, Frozen II trailer!

The Times has a new puzzle game called Tiles and WARNING: very addictive.

SO CUTE: Tiny Prince Louis Makes His Trooping The Colour Debut…

The three original seasons of Veronica Mars will be on Hulu on July 1st if you want to catch up or rewatch before the new season!

I'm saving this to watch over the weekend but YAY: Sesame Street: Tiny Desk Concert

The Muppet Movie is coming back to theaters for its 40th anniversary

Ooh: FOR ALL MANKIND: Apple TV+ Reveals First Trailer for Alternate Reality NASA Drama

Once Threatened, Europe’s Night Trains Rebound

These Are the Craziest Milkshakes in Every State

Wednesday, June 5, 2019

Afternoon Tea (6/5/19)

An Urgent Mystery: Who's Attacking Ebola Responders In Congo — And Why?

This is more well-reported and important (beyond this one case) than the headline sort of implies: Trump Pardoned Billionaire Conrad Black but Left His Prison Buddy Behind

The Atlantic has a great special section for the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage: Votes for Women

When It Comes to Birth Control and Eugenics, Clarence Thomas Gets It All Wrong

Some great recommendations for kids here! 7 New and Upcoming Reads Perfect for Pride Month

Tuesday, June 4, 2019

Afternoon Tea (6/4/19)

This is lovely and I'm so happy for Emily: The Catastrophist, or: On coming out as trans at 37

The Shorebirds of Delaware Bay Are Going Hungry

This was really useful! How to Cope With Multiple-Project Paralysis

What 10,000 Steps Will Really Get You

I am mildly interested in taxidermy because everyone always thinks that's what I mean when I say I'm a taxonomist, and anyway this book sounds good: Better Know an Author: Kristen Arnett