good morning, it's 10 march 2017

Two stories on Flynn; first, that he retroactively registered as a foreign agent (and was paid $530K for it) during the campaign and while a Trump administration official. The neat second story is that the White House is provably lying about not knowing. (Flynn Admits Lobbying May Have Helped Turkey, White House Demonstrably Lying About Flynn) Meanwhile, the Trump administration is claiming that ethics rules don't apply to various staffers, and the Secretary of State for Exxon is travelling to Asia - but without allowing media along, and after cancelling yet another planned press conference. (Rep. Elijah Cummings blasts Trump admin.—demands explanation on White House claim that ethics rules don't apply to certain Trump staffers, Tapper: Tillerson traveling without press ‘insulting’)

Also, "EPA’s environmental justice head resigns" is pretty self-explanitory.

"BLUEXIT: A Modest Proposal For Separating Blue States From Red" is getting a lot of reaction out there, much of it negative. But it's absolutely a moot point - the rightists didn't take the not-dissimilar Archipelago of Cities proposal seriously 15 years ago, there's no way in hell they'll take this seriously now - and moreover, they don't want to. None of this has ever been about 'local control' except as an excuse, used where it fits, to support what they want to do anyway. If you want to do something with 'local control' that they don't like, they'll move against it federally. Their interest in states' rights and true original-school Federalism is purely a sham. (See also, "Texas Central fights legislators' efforts to kill high-speed rail project.")

Three Jeff "Racist Motherfucker" Sessions articles: "Sessions: Gitmo is a 'very fine place'," "Jeff Sessions Should be Disbarred," and "ACLU files ethics complaint against Sessions with Alabama Bar Disciplinary Commission." Normally lying under oath is an immediate disbarment; I rather doubt they'll stick to that though for one of their own.

We're still on the case: "Washington AG says order blocking Trump’s first travel ban should apply to new one" - it's not a separate case, it's a straight-up attempt to apply the previous ruling to this order, because, as Atty. General Ferguson said, we can't keep playing whackamole with a series of endless slightly-revised new orders. (Hawai'i has also jumped in, filing a separate court procedure, and a few more states have joined Washington State.) As for impact, well, "Fatima Avelica Watched Her Dad Get Arrested by Immigration Officials While Taking Her to School."

Former UKIP party leader "Nigel Farage Just Visited The Ecuadorian Embassy In London." And lied about it in a way that was that kind of contemptuous "I'm lying, I know I'm lying, you know I'm lying, I know you know I'm lying, and don't even give a fuck" answer. Meeting up with Assange? Why else would he be there?

Sadly inevitable, anti-Semitism seems to be being bolted onto prosperity gospel, in "Cindy Jacobs: God Wants Christians To Be Rich So Jews Become Jealous And Convert."

In corruption news, "Senate Republicans introduce resolution ensuring ISPs don't need your permission to sell your private data and SSN" and "GOP senators’ new bill would let ISPs sell your Web browsing data" are both about the same regulatory rollbacks. And Trumpcare - "Trump tells conservative leaders he will blame Dems if healthcare plan fails: report," "Advocates call foul on CDC cuts in GOP Obamacare repeal bill," "The Great Republican Swindle," and "Mental Health Support Will Disappear Under The GOP Healthcare Act" round out the list.

( It's March 10, 2017; this is the news )

a few pictures from qualicum beach

It’s very strange to start learning the violin (or, in folk terms, the fiddle), just because it’s an instrument that anyone around me actually plays. Honestly not entirely sure what to do with that. Everything else I’ve learned it’s been me and THAT’S ALL (for the most part) and so I’m all kinda “…huh” and not sure what I think about it.

The other people at the Qualicum Beach workshops were pretty much “…well you’re jumping straight into the deep end, aren’t you?” at me, and I’m all YES BUT IT’S OKAY I AM A SHARK. A SHARK WITH A FIDDLE. APPARENTLY.

I have a few photos, but not that many, because the weather on the way was pretty terrible and I like rain and stuff so you know I’m not fucking around. But right as we were docking in Nanaimo, it cleared up a bit, and I took a few pictures.

Of course, the best picture I got of Andre – who was leading the workshops – was on guitar. Go fig. Still, it’s the best shot I got that wasn’t video. (I took a little video for technique study later.)

I broke a bow string! MILESTONE ACHIEVED! Very, very small milestone. Still. Also, a vaguely album-covery picture from Saturday night, after dinner but before the ceilidh performances, of the workshop stage.

Oh, yeah, there was a stage because everyone at the workshop gets up and does a piece or two. Anna and I went up as a band and did the entirely-unrelated-to-the-event “King of Elfland’s Daughter” and “Elf Glade.” They were not expecting that, and Andre was all “now I get what you do.” It was pretty metal.

Bigger versions on Flickr, as usual.

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