Hosted by Garbage Pail Kids.
Photo of the Day
Stephanie Miller of Sandusky Ohio cries on the shoulder of U.S. President Barack Obama at a campaign event at Washington Park in Sandusky, Ohio July 5, 2012. Miller's sister died of cancer and said that Obama's healthcare plan would have given her better treatment options. [Reuters Pictures]Blub forever.
Annie-Rose at Think Progress has more on the story here.
Again, I will note that the Affordable Care Act is not without its problems (for example), but given that our choice is not between universal coverage and the ACA, but instead between the ACA and maintaining the status quo where you are welcome to die oh well fuck you shoulda got yourself some bootstraps (which, by the way, is Candidate Romney's position), the ACA is preferable, in my estimation.
My condolences to Ms. Miller.
[H/T to Jessica.]
Midweek Puppehs
Zelda
Dudley
We are very fortunate that none of the five furry residents of Shakes Manor are the least bit disturbed by fireworks, especially since we've had fireworks being set off day and night by various neighbors for the past two weeks.
If you live in the US with pets, how do they do during the 4th of July?
Happy Independence Day (With Bonus Nerd Nostalgia)
Happy Independence Day, Shakers!
[Image Description: Advertisement for a t-shirt for "Young America for '76" The t-shirt shows an eagle grasping an olive branch and swooping over a tricolored ribbon with the text "Young America for '76--Peace Forever"]
(Scanned from a 1976 issue of Freedom Fighters.)
It's Independence Day in the United States. If you live in the U.S. or are U.S.ian, are you celebrating? What are you doing? Feel free to share your Independence Day celebrations here. As always, "doing nothing" or the like are perfectly acceptable answers!
Recommended Reading
[Content Note for misogyny, harassment, bullying, attempts to silence, and sexual violence.]
Anita Sarkeesian: Image Based Harassment and Visual Misogyny. This is the cost of being a feminist woman on the internet who refuses to go away.
As we're on holiday this week, comments will be closed, but I wanted to make sure to recommend this important piece, because I stand in solidarity with Anita.
Blog Note
Many of the mods and contributors are traveling and/or on holiday for either part or all of this week, since July 4, a US holiday, falls right in the middle of the week. So we're going to (mostly) take a break this week. We'll still have moderated Open Threads, and there may be a few other things here and there.
Hope everyone celebrating holidays this week, in the US and elsewhere, enjoys them!
We'll be back to full time next week.
Happy Canada Day!
Happy Canada Day, Shakers!
I've spent Canada Days past at community celebrations as big as the one at Parliament Hill and as small as the one at Shelburne Harbour, but this year, I'm stuck in the States for the holiday, so a private Canada Day Across America it is for me, with friends over for Maritime baked beans, brown bread, and butter tarts.
If you are Canadian or living in Canada, and you celebrated over the weekend or are celebrating today, feel free to use this thread to share how you are marking the occasion. "Sleeping" or "doing absolutely nothing" or the like are, of course, perfectly legitimate answers!
Open Thread
Hosted by a penguin.
This week's open threads have been brought to you by jumping animals.
