Amazon (weirdness of)
So it's not just my "contextual ad" window; the weirdness is at Amazon. I was wondering about that, wondering why allegedly "contextual ads" ignore the books mentioned in my posts and push irrelevant junk that I certainly am not recommending. Seems the company just has a lot of real garbage to unload.
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/07/15/here-are-the-most-peculiar-items-from-amazons-massive-sale-today/?
About the allegedly "contextual ad" that seems to be stuck on this page now...there's a style of bed linens known as "Priscilla," and it comes in a size called "King." Cute pun, Amazon, but now that everybody's had time to groan you may retire it now. If this web site were going to endorse bed linens, it would be the handmade, one-of-a-kind variety, as shown here. (And, yes, if +Marsha Cooper puts two of these quilts together, it'll be a "king size.")
http://marshasspot.blogspot.com/2015/07/wip-wednesday-wish-me-luck.html
Animals
Regular readers know that this site has long disparaged the inhumane practice of keeping chickens in "battery" conditions. Tyson is one chicken processing company that attracted a special level of heat, a few years ago, when Don Tyson was reportedly caught running cocaine by jamming bricks of the stuff into the bodies of chickens while the birds were alive. The current generation claim that the company is now dedicated to Christian business principles. That's grand. I'd like to see them commit to humane treatment of chickens, too. Breed natural, genetically-traditional birds that are able to walk, and give them opportunities to walk now and then.
https://www.change.org/p/tell-tyson-foods-to-stop-torturing-animals?
Ogden Nash wrote about a silly seagull who wept because he was not an eagle. Liz Klimas shares a video of seagulls whose reaction to eagles is less, er, passive.
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/07/16/epic-aerial-battle-between-a-bald-eagle-and-two-seagulls-is-a-must-see/?
Reminder: Whatever kind of water dish you use--I'm not endorsing any brand promotions--it's time to make sure your pets' water dishes are full. I saw an interesting article in a newspaper recently. "Why don't cats pant like dogs?" Cats (and small dogs) don't overheat as easily as big dogs do, but any time the temperature goes over 90 degrees, cats do pant like dogs. And retreat indoors, or, if the house isn't air-conditioned, into the basement. They don't drink nearly as much water as big dogs, either...but they need for it to be fresh and cool.
http://livewagbark.com/product-review/torus-not-your-average-water-bowl-product-review/
And about smaller animals...I liked +Lyn Lomasi 's hamster article better in the AC format; the typefont showing here is hard to read. So, paste it into Word, fix the font, and print it if you're considering buying a caged pet.
http://www.lifesuccessfully.com/pets--animal-advocacy-articles/helping-kids-care-for-their-first-hamster
Apocalyptics
Is the "Mark of the Beast" at hand?
http://noisyroom.net/blog/2015/07/16/your-2015-obamacare-implant-and-mark-of-the-beast-test/
Censorship
What I find disheartening (although I support their right to do it) is the fact that the Tea Party contacts who sent me this link harped on the idea that a man was disagreeing with some feminists, without mentioning the topic of their disagreement. It was a video game in which players appear to punch someone in the face until the screen goes red. And actually, even if the feminist "victims" challenged him first, in this specific context I can imagine an e-conversation heating up to the point where the guy threatened physical violence. So, maybe you're less outraged by the case going to court than amused by the thought that the supporter of violent games lost the verbal abuse game. Anyway, the story:
http://news.nationalpost.com/full-comment/christie-blatchford-ruling-in-twitter-harassment-trial-could-have-enormous-fallout-for-free-speech
Elizabeth Barrette links to an article addressing this issue from the other extreme. I find the original article worth reading, EB's discussion more so, as reflected in my comment. The real reason why writers seldom bother with "trigger warnings" is that there are more readers who'd be insulted by the suggestion that they're just too emotional to handle a reference to alcohol than there are readers who'd be emotionally upset by seeing a reference to alcohol.
http://ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com/3723748.html
Should I (or can I) copy this censor-triggering graphic here? (Taking the risk that literal thinkers will say it proves I'm a conservative!) It worked! Hurrah! Thanks, +Allen West Republic .
Censored cartoon here...made me smile...
http://blog.dilbert.com/post/124324994626/robots-read-news-about-mexican-tunnels
Classics
I loved Clueless...maybe because I didn't believe real kids could possibly be as, well, clueless as the ones in that parody series. Anyway I collected the whole series of paperback novels. (There was a series of follow-ups; each one is laugh-out-loud funny and based, loosely, on some classic of English literature.)
http://booktrib.com/2015/07/5-lines-we-loved-from-clueless-on-its-20th-anniversary/
Cute Things
Taylor Swift does read...some of what her fans post about her on social media. She proved it. Cute!
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/07/16/someone-left-comment-on-girls-tumblr-account-that-taylor-swift-was-so-offended-by-she-took-action/?
Frugal
+Marsha Cooper plans a frugal vacation trip...What I do to keep vacations frugal: stay home. (If you don't have to go to work, it's a vacation.)
http://marshasspot.blogspot.com/2015/07/frugal-friday-with-marsha-preparing-for.html
Gross-Out News Story Continues
Planned Parenthood spokesman apologizes for the story that squicked the nation this week:
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/07/16/planned-parenthoods-president-apologizes-for-officials-tone-in-video/?
Highlanders & Hillbillies
Jack Welch tells it like it is...except that Big Stone Gap is not, strictly speaking, Appalachia. (It's a few hours' walk.)
https://wendywelchbigstonegap.wordpress.com/2015/07/15/4813/
National News
Murderous Prozac-demented blank-blank-bleep-bleeps are enough to make a tough veteran cry. I don't know whether his willingness to publicize his tears will help though. I think the former-humans who do this kind of thing are more attuned to the voices that only they can hear.
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/07/17/incredibly-heartbreaking-moment-a-pastor-kneels-down-to-comfort-and-pray-with-a-veteran-mourning-the-chattanooga-shooting/?
Personal
Update: I would be seriously sick if I'd eaten one whole wheat-based cookie, but have had only minor discomfort after eating ice cream that had been whirled in a blender that contained cookie crumbs.
http://priscillaking.blogspot.com/2015/07/phenology-box-turtle-update.html
Phenology
+Ruth Cox shares photos of a pretty but poisonous flower that's starting to bloom in my part of the world, too, about now.
http://ruthcoxpoetryprose.blogspot.com/2015/07/moving-sound-trumpet-flowers.html
Plant
I suppose this is a phenology post, but I'm not sure where it came from. Mike Opelka warns that a new invasive weed, giant hogweed, has effects similar to poison ivy, only (for some people) worse.
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/07/15/if-you-see-this-plant-growing-nearby-whatever-you-do-dont-touch-it/?
Poem
Beautiful thought, and bilingual.
http://alicewalkersgarden.com/2015/05/beyond-about-marriage/
Politics
The Huffington Post calls it right:
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/07/17/huffington-post-announces-refusal-to-cover-donald-trump-as-a-real-candidate-you-can-find-him-next-to-our-stories-on-the-kardashians/?
Another training course for political activists, this one in South Carolina. The messy-looking link is probably temporary; the page is for classes presented this summer only.
https://www.faclevents.org/index.php?option=com_vikevents&task=viewevent&Itemid=298&itid=248
Karen Schoen warns about ongoing political efforts...
http://ntlconsulting.blogspot.com/2015/07/un-agenda-21-newsletter.html
Washington, D.C.
Crazy from the heat? (All Metro stations do have restrooms. They're locked, and not normally open to the public, but they're supposed to be opened--quickly and courteously--in any kind of emergency, including those that involve toddlers. In the Metroman's behalf, this web site will point out that the father and child were less than ten minutes away from Crystal City, which had big, clean public restrooms the last time I checked.)
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/07/15/call-the-police-somebody-watch-a-metro-employee-react-to-father-with-4-year-old-daughter-needing-to-use-the-restroom/?
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