1 Action Item & 1 Fun Thing

This image is from Showtime's Roadies. (But first, some politics.)

If you're like me (and an American), your white-hot rage over the election is switching gears. It's become a slow burn with healthy doses of "not the-fuck on my watch." I've felt a little bad for that change, but to be honest it's a healthy one. We can't afford to burn out. We have to sustain our energy for four years. It can be done. I've seen it--yes, even in the USA. So, I've signed up for Jennifer Hofmann's weekly action items alerts. (There's a phone app that tells you what bills are up for review in Congress too.) Anyway, here's one from Jen's to-do list:
Petition President Obama to dismantle NSEERS, the inactive Muslim registry system established by President Bush after 9-11.
Click:http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/president-obama-prevent-3
fact checks:
1.https://www.aclu.org/blog/speakeasy/homeland-security-suspends-ineffective-discriminatory-immigration-program
2.http://www.vox.com/2016/12/1/13807816/obama-nseers-stop-trump
3.https://www.lawfareblog.com/muslim-registry-or-nseers-reboot-would-be-unconstitutional

I like that Jen provides fact checking. Given the issues around false news, it makes me happier about the whole thing. Also if the idea that there's an inactive registry system in place doesn't creep you out, it damned well should. In pre-Hilter Berlin, the police maintained a list of homosexuals because, due to the economic situation, there was an active blackmailing ring (several, actually) operating in Berlin. The police chief wasn't interested in arresting homosexuals. However, he was interested in arresting people who blackmailed homosexuals. When the Nazis came to power they took advantage of that list and used it to round up homosexuals.

​So, yes. Having this information ready-made for bigots in power is a problem.

And now...about Roadies.

It's no secret that one of my favorite films is Almost Famous (written by Cameron Crowe.) I can relate to William Miller. (The bits "They hate me." and "I met you. You are not cool." just hits home so hard. Also, coming up through the ranks in SF literary world has a lot in common emotionally with the unrealness of the world portrayed in the film. Mind you, it's 1,000 times less glamourous, drunk, and sexy.) Anyway, Dane is aware of my love for Cameron Crowe, and he's been telling me how much I'd like this show. (Also written by Cameron Crowe.) Unfortunately, it's only on Showtime. So, I haven't gotten to see it...until now. I'm a few episodes in, and I'm liking it quite a bit. Roadies is not quite as magical as Almost Famous, but it's close, and it's far less sexist. (The '70s was sexist as fuck.) So, I'm enjoying it. The only catch is that predominently white cast thing. Again. I keep pointing it out because we need to be aware of these things. It's important.